as in bloody
smeared or stained with blood doesn't watch too many movies that feature gory violence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the adjective gory contrast with its synonyms?

The words bloody and sanguinary are common synonyms of gory. While all three words mean "affected by or involving the shedding of blood," gory suggests a profusion of blood and slaughter.

exceptionally gory, even for a horror movie

Where would bloody be a reasonable alternative to gory?

Although the words bloody and gory have much in common, bloody is applied especially to things that are actually covered with blood or are made up of blood.

bloody hands

When might sanguinary be a better fit than gory?

In some situations, the words sanguinary and gory are roughly equivalent. However, sanguinary applies especially to something attended by, or someone inclined to, bloodshed.

the Civil War was America's most sanguinary conflict

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of gory The birthing scene in episode 11 was the most accurate, gory, and riveting fictional depiction of childbirth in television history, in my opinion. Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 29 Sep. 2025 While the obvious draw to the film is campy, gory coyote action, the couple is effusive about each other’s ability to pull off heavier moments during the family’s arc. William Earl, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025 Most allow some violent content but place restrictions on especially gory and bloody videos and restrict such content from younger users. Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025 Over the past 20 years of Black List darlings and Edgar Wright rip-offs, the American film industry has established a new archetype of cinema filled with quippy antiheroes, gory allegories for domestic strife, and character actors rattling off reference humor. Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gory
Adjective
  • Fox's nails may have been dipped in blood (red nail polish), but the rest of her look was soft and sweet—a fun contrast against the bloody gown.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 27 Oct. 2025
  • His trial lasted seven weeks and included testimonies from some of his former hit men, including John Veasey, who helped to prove that Stanfa had directed a bloody campaign against Merlino, per UPI.
    Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Raptors crowd, generally decked out in red, black, gold, purple, white and some of the other colours the Raptors have featured over the years, sported far more blue than usual on Friday.
    Eric Koreen, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • All colors—black, green, pink, pistachio, red, blue, and white—have the wide lines running down the sides in contrasting colors.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gory. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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