grotesquery

Or gro·tes·quer·ie

[groh-tes-kuh-ree]

noun

plural

grotesqueries 

1. grotesque character.

2. something grotesque.

3. grotesque ornamental work.

grotesquery

/ ɡrəʊˈtɛskərɪ /

noun

1. the state of being grotesque

2. something that is grotesque, esp an object such as a sculpture

Word History and Origins

Origin of grotesquery¹

From the French word grotesquerie, dating back to 1555–65. See grotesque, -ery

Example Sentences

Beneath the supernatural grotesqueries, Mr. King reflects on the mundane horrors—insularity, seediness and dead ends—of American small-town life.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It’s easy to sneer at Morris’s antics, but beneath the grotesquery is a real hunger.

Read more on Salon

It’s a necessary rejoinder to the grotesqueries of the word “content.”

Read more on New York Times

This is one reason the A.I. commercials reward repeat viewing: Once you get past their grotesqueries, you start seeing fascinating signals buried in the noise.

Read more on New York Times

Lauren is a ceramic artist whose porcelains sport signature grotesqueries, usually of a squirmy sort, such as a teapot with “a revolting brown worm crawling along the spout,” and “a slug depicted on the underside.”

Read more on Washington Post