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

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

Last month, after weeks of mounting pressure, the Israeli military said it had airdropped humanitarian aid into Gaza - a move that was criticised at the time by aid agencies as a "grotesque distraction".

From BBC

Pastor, in his statement, called the delays with that project a “grotesque situation.”

From Los Angeles Times

"It is just heartbreaking for them in what was supposed to be a poignant farewell this morning that it turned into something which was just grotesque."

From BBC

Related Words

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