gorier; goriest
Synonyms of gorynext
1
: covered with gore : bloodstained
2
: bloodcurdling, sensational
wanted to hear the gory details
Choose the Right Synonym for gory

bloody, sanguinary, gory mean affected by or involving the shedding of blood.

bloody is applied especially to things that are actually covered with blood or are made up of blood.

bloody hands

sanguinary applies especially to something attended by, or someone inclined to, bloodshed.

the Civil War was America's most sanguinary conflict

gory suggests a profusion of blood and slaughter.

exceptionally gory, even for a horror movie

Examples of gory in a Sentence

doesn't watch too many movies that feature gory violence
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Terrifier 4 – In Theaters October Art the Clown is set to return in this fourth, and potentially final, installment of the ultra-gory slasher franchise, which promises to be a climactic showdown with major revelations about the series’ mythology. Robert Lang, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025 Relive the gory days with this seasonally appropriate slasher flick. Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025 When House frantically dials up the device, the man’s head explodes in a mess of gooey, gory innards. Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Dec. 2025 Her book was granular on the subject of embalming, devoting much of her manuscript to the gory particularities of the procedure. Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gory

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gory was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Gory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gory. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

gory

adjective
ˈgō(ə)r-ē How to pronounce gory (audio)
ˈgȯ(ə)r-
gorier; goriest
1
: covered with gore : bloodstained
2

More from Merriam-Webster on gory

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