1
as in loud
disagreeable to one's aesthetic or artistic sense
the gaudy, overdecorated interior of the gambling casino was just too grotesque for my taste
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ugly
unpleasant to look at
that bloody Halloween mask is grotesque
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in monster
a strange or horrible and often frightening creature
a gallery of grotesques from some horror movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grotesque
Nora Colomer, Fox News, 24 Feb. 2025
This vignette, marked by shimmering red decor and a grotesque clientele, feels the most inspired by Waters and his early work with Divine.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2025
Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2023
Washington National Cathedral, a famous example of Neo-Gothic architecture, is known for its collection of more than a hundred gargoyles and grotesques, including funny ones.
—Kate McGregor, House Beautiful, 14 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for grotesque
Adjective
Not following the prescription leads to some very grotesque consequences and drives the older Elizabeth to horrific measures that make for a very macabre look at the societal pressures women face with aging in the beauty industry.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 24 Feb. 2025
This vignette, marked by shimmering red decor and a grotesque clientele, feels the most inspired by Waters and his early work with Divine.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
More amusingly, among the gargoyles and grotesques that dot the various towers are one in the form of a corrupt politician and another representing Darth Vader.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2023
Washington National Cathedral, a famous example of Neo-Gothic architecture, is known for its collection of more than a hundred gargoyles and grotesques, including funny ones.
—Kate McGregor, House Beautiful, 14 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for grotesque
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grotesque
Adjective
-
In a nutshell, this Mango crossbody is trendy without being loud: a balance that will serve you well, especially when paired with a maxi skirt, white sneakers, and a transitional-weather cashmere sweater almost as soft as the item itself.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The sigh of relief heard on Wall Street was almost as loud on Capitol Hill, where GOP lawmakers let out a collective exhale.—
Alex Gangitano,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And at a moment where reality TV shows are proliferating, but often with an ugly underbelly, the cable brand is betting that its antidote will resonate with an audience on both linear TV and streaming.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Apr. 2025
-
That pollution causes an ugly brown smog to blanket the skyline on hot summer days and causes people, especially those with respiratory problems, to struggle to breathe.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The space monsters are also entirely terrifying, gestating inside young suns to hideously emerge as massive space insects.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Natalie and a real-estate agent named Dawn (Danielle Brooks), in search of the missing Henry, make their way to the Overworld, too, and the four team up with Steve in a painfully generic adventure to fight off monsters, find another Crystal, save the Overworld (and Dennis), and get back home.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Donald Trump defended his harsh new tariffs on Saturday Night Live this week — and maybe took a swipe at last week’s musical guest, too.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Never one for details, Trump is now clearly linking the harsh 54% tariffs imposed on China on Tuesday to a TikTok deal.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The month leading up to their Champions League tie with Real Madrid has been absolutely hideous.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
-
The architectural vandalism was hideous and heartbreaking to watch, inhumane civic renewal by wrecking ball in the discredited vein of Robert Moses.—
Frank Rich,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Dreamy forests and bright angels curdle and mutate into digital grotesquerie, a Spam Folder of faceless creatures and shock shlock.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
19 Feb. 2025
-
And his finest work, the 1990 television soap opera Twin Peaks, could also be considered a sensitive, comedic Rorschach test, given its all-American grotesqueries — the definition of his artistic expression.—
Armond White,
National Review,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
While seeing your university represented in one of the most popular TV shows can be jarring, the school’s response to the suicidal ideation scene also took some of the students aback.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Apr. 2025
-
At the very least, Angry Birds 2 is sometimes jarring, and that’s not nothing in a land of vanilla crowd pleasers.—
Jordan Crucchiola,
Vulture,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Smears on non-sensor areas of the tiara are like bug debris on your hood, aesthetically unpleasing but not harmful.—
Eric Tegler,
Popular Mechanics,
1 Oct. 2019
-
His side's inability to finish off the game against Burnley on the other hand was very unpleasing.—
SI.com,
SI.com,
1 Feb. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Grotesque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grotesque. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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