Meaning & use
grisly images
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Meanings
nounplural
Pictures or scenes that are shockingly unpleasant, often showing death, blood, or violence.
Grammar: Usually plural because 'images' is plural; the adjective 'grisly' does not change form.
Patterns
- grisly images of something
- show grisly images
- grisly images from the scene
The news showed grisly images of the accident.
Police released grisly images from the crime scene.
Viewers were warned about grisly images in the documentary.
nounpluralfigurative
Unpleasant or frightening pictures in the mind or in art.
Grammar: Often used figuratively for mental pictures or artistic works.
Patterns
- grisly images in someone's mind
- grisly images in a film
The novel leaves you with grisly images that stay for days.
The artist is famous for her grisly images of war.
Common combinations
- grisly images of war
- The report included grisly images of war.
- grisly images from the scene
- Witnesses described grisly images from the scene.
- show grisly images
- The channel refused to show grisly images before 9 p.m.
- grisly details
- The article spared readers the grisly details.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gruesome images
- Very close in meaning; 'gruesome' often emphasizes disgust, while 'grisly' emphasizes horror.
- horrific images
- Stronger and more emotional; 'grisly' is more descriptive of the unpleasant details.
Opposites
Word family
- grisly adjective
- Shockingly unpleasant, often involving death or blood.
- grisliness noun
- The quality of being grisly.
Commonly confused: grisly images or grizzly?
grisly images vs grizzly
'Grizzly' describes a large bear with grayish fur; 'grisly' means horrifying. They sound the same but are different words.
Practice
The documentary was criticized for showing ______ images of the victims.
Choose one answer.
'Grisly' means shockingly unpleasant, which fits the context of victims. 'Grizzly' refers to a bear, 'gristly' means full of gristle, and 'grisled' is not a standard word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “grisly images”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.