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View synonyms for

grotesque

[groh-tesk]

adjective

  1. odd or unnatural in shape, appearance, or character; fantastically ugly or absurd; bizarre.

    Synonyms: , , , ,
  2. fantastic in the shaping and combination of forms, as in decorative work combining incongruous human and animal figures with scrolls, foliage, etc.



noun

  1. any grotesque object, design, person, or thing.

grotesque

/ ɡəʊˈɛ /

adjective

  1. strangely or fantastically distorted; bizarre

    a grotesque reflection in the mirror

  2. of or characteristic of the grotesque in art

  3. absurdly incongruous; in a ludicrous context

    a grotesque turn of phrase

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a 16th-century decorative style in which parts of human, animal, and plant forms are distorted and mixed

  2. a decorative device, as in painting or sculpture, in this style

  3. printing the family of 19th-century sans serif display types

  4. any grotesque person or thing

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • grotesquely adverb
  • grotesqueness noun
  • ungrotesque adjective
  • ˈٱܱ adverb
  • ˈٱܱԱ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of grotesque1

First recorded in 1555–65; from French, from Italian grottesca (from pittura grottesca, opera grottesca “grotesque painting, decoration” such as was apparently found in excavated buildings), the feminine of grottesco “grotesque, uncouth,” derivative of grotta “cave.” See grotto, -esque
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Word History and Origins

Origin of grotesque1

C16: from French, from Old Italian ( pittura ) grottesca cave painting, from grottesco of a cave, from grotta cave; see grotto
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Synonym Study

See bizarre.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Call it the Trump effect, bringing communities together through grotesque and oppressive federal overreach, very much disturbing the peace.

From

“Power can rewrite history with grotesque false narratives. It can make criminals heroes and heroes criminals,” and more importantly, “Power can change the definition of the words we use to describe reality.”

From

The Royal College of Nursing said it was "grotesque" nurses were getting less than doctors for the second year in a row.

From

The Royal College of Nursing said it was "grotesque" that nurses had been offered a smaller rise than doctors, which it said would be "entirely swallowed up" by price rises.

From

Members of the family also spoke out and said the brothers had been "victimised by this grotesque shockadrama," and the show was "riddled with mistruths".

From

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