Illustration of gargoyle
- gargoyle 1a
gargoyle
noun
gar·goyle
ˈgär-ˌgȯi(-ə)l 
1
a
: a spout in the form of a grotesque human or animal figure projecting from a roof gutter to throw rainwater clear of a building
b
: a grotesquely carved figure
2
: a person with an ugly face
Did you know?
In the 12th century, St. Bernard of Clairvaux reportedly complained about the new sculptures in the cloisters where he lived. "Surely," he is quoted as saying, "if we do not blush for such absurdities we should at least regret what we have spent on them." St. Bernard was apparently provoked by the grotesque figures designed to drain rainwater from buildings. By the 13th century, those figures were being called gargoyles, a name that came to Middle English from the Old French word gargoule. The stone beasts likely earned that name because of the water that gargled out of their throats and mouths; the word gargoule is imitative in origin.
Examples of gargoyle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The film finally returns to Dracula’s castle, where four stone gargoyles come to life, and where there is bad swordplay, schlocky cannon fire, and a fortune-cookie theological lecture from Waltz’s Priest.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 7 Feb. 2026
But Besson adds his own bizarre flair, including an army of CGI gargoyles that do Dracul’s bidding.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
But when digital gargoyles start flying down from the ceiling, the horror-action mechanics Besson can’t help but include here overwhelm whatever intimacy his film had before.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
While retaining an old-school, aristocratic vibe, Adare's fanciful gargoyles, genuinely warm staff, grand and intimate spaces, and super-comfortable rooms make it somewhere uniquely and unabashedly the Ireland of now.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
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Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 7 Feb. 2026
But Besson adds his own bizarre flair, including an army of CGI gargoyles that do Dracul’s bidding.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
But when digital gargoyles start flying down from the ceiling, the horror-action mechanics Besson can’t help but include here overwhelm whatever intimacy his film had before.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
While retaining an old-school, aristocratic vibe, Adare's fanciful gargoyles, genuinely warm staff, grand and intimate spaces, and super-comfortable rooms make it somewhere uniquely and unabashedly the Ireland of now.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gargoyle
Cite this Entry
“Gargoyle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gargoyle. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gargoyle
noun
gar·goyle
ˈgär-ˌgȯil
: a waterspout in the form of a strange or frightening human or animal figure sticking out at the roof or eaves of a building
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