# grisly

/ˈɡɹɪzɫi/ (US) · /ɡɹˈɪsli/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grisly
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

describing something that is very unpleasant and shocking because it involves blood, death, or violence.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "a grizzly murder" but "a grisly murder" — Learners often confuse 'grisly' (horrible) with 'grizzly' (the type of bear or hair streaked with grey).

## Usage notes

- Typically used to describe crimes, accidents, or horror stories; often modified by 'quite' or 'truly'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.