Word
grisly
Phoneticsgris·ly
US/ˈɡɹɪzɫi/
UK/ɡɹˈɪsli/
Definition
adj. describing something that is very unpleasant and shocking because it involves blood, death, or violence.
adj. inspiring horror, disgust, or intense fear, specifically through the depiction or presence of gore and physical violence.
Examples
“The news report gave some grisly details about the crime scene.”
“Detectives spent hours examining the grisly evidence left behind in the abandoned warehouse.”
“While the novel was praised for its intricate plot, some critics found the grisly descriptions of the battlefield to be unnecessarily graphic and distracting.”
Examples
simple
“The news report gave some grisly details about the crime scene.”
contextual
“Detectives spent hours examining the grisly evidence left behind in the abandoned warehouse.”
complex
“While the novel was praised for its intricate plot, some critics found the grisly descriptions of the battlefield to be unnecessarily graphic and distracting.”
Usage
Typically used to describe crimes, accidents, or horror stories; often modified by 'quite' or 'truly'.
Pitfall
a grizzly murder
a grisly murder
Learners often confuse 'grisly' (horrible) with 'grizzly' (the type of bear or hair streaked with grey).
Real-World Examples
“A series of grisly murder drags Yabuki away from his lifestyle, but perhaps back to his past with the Yakuza.” “In recent weeks, the Toronto Fire Service has blitzed social media with grisly photos, the result of lithium-ion fires.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/grisly