gory

American  

[gawr-ee, gohr-ee] / ˈgɔr i, ˈgoʊr i /

adjective

gorier, goriest

1. covered or stained with gore; bloody.

2. resembling gore.

3. involving much bloodshed and violence.

   a gory battle.

4. unpleasant or disagreeable.

   to reveal the gory details of a divorce.

---

gory British  

/ ˈɡɔːrɪ /

adjective

1. horrific or bloodthirsty

   a gory story

2. involving bloodshed and killing

   a gory battle

3. covered in gore

---

Other Word Forms

• gorily adverb
• goriness noun

Etymology

Origin of gory

First recorded in 1470–80; gore ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Rather than recapitulate historical chronicles, Mr. Enrigue imagines the event from the Aztec point of view, creating an account that is gory, hallucinatory and thrilling in its strangeness.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s hard to find a more influential game than this gory, controversial game from Id Software.

From The Wall Street Journal

In Ms. Skuse’s expert and frequently humorous telling, Renaissance medicine comes to life in all its gory and weird splendor.

From The Wall Street Journal

Although Aleys’s mother cannot read, she knows the stories of the saints and relishes embroidering them with “goriest” details to keep her children interested.

From Los Angeles Times

Although Aleys’ mother cannot read, she knows the stories of the saints and relishes embroidering them with “goriest” details to keep her children interested.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• murderous