grotesque

[groh-tesk]

adjective

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

   Synonyms: wild, antic, weird, deformed, distorted

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

/ ɡrəʊˈtɛsk /

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

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

Other Word Forms

• grotesquely adverb
• grotesqueness noun
• ungrotesque adjective

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

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

Synonym Study

See bizarre.

Example Sentences

Six police officers were involved in a WhatsApp group involving jokes about murder victims and where messages "read like a grotesque carnival of discrimination and abuse", a misconduct hearing was told.

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Ragoravich’s dacha is a “garish and almost grotesque” palace clad in marble that makes Maggie think of Versailles, but in a way that makes Versailles seem dumpy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

With 16 full-length records, many banned and censored for their grotesque album cover art, and song titles and lyrics that sparked political outrage, Cannibal Corpse built its reputation on extremity.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Lynching’s grotesque aim is only partly punishment, the arrogance of judgment not determined by a court of law against a claimed transgressor.

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It reminds one of a grotesque Russian expression: “If he beats you, it means he loves you.”

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Related Words

• absurd 
• bizarre 
• eerie 
• fanciful 
• fantastic 
• ludicrous 
• monstrous 
• odd 
• outlandish 
• preposterous 
• ridiculous 
• strange 
• surrealistic 
• whimsical