grotesque
adj.adj. looking very strange, ugly, or unnatural in a way that is often scary or funny. You use this to describe something that is twisted or out of shape.
adj. characterised by distorted, unnatural, or bizarre physical features that evoke both disgust and amusement. Often used to describe art, architecture, or physical appearances that deviate wildly from standard proportions.
The old house was decorated with grotesque stone carvings.
The actor wore grotesque makeup to transform into the monster for the horror film.
The author's use of grotesque imagery highlighted the moral decay of the city, presenting characters with exaggerated physical deformities that mirrored their internal corruption.
Etymology tree Ancient Greek κρύπτω (krúptō) Ancient Greek κρυπτή (kruptḗ)bor. Latin crypta Italian grotta Proto-Indo-European *-iskos Proto-Germanic *-iskaz Proto-West Germanic *-iskbor. Vulgar Latin -iscus Italian -esco Italian grottescobor. Middle French grotesquebor. English grotesque Borrowed from Middle French grotesque, from Italian grottesco, from grotta (“cave”) + -esco (relational suffix). By surface analysis, grotto + -esque. Compare French grotesque, English grotto.
Often used to describe visual art or literary descriptions; can be used predicatively after linking verbs like 'look' or 'become'.