Definition of "gruesome" []

• Causing horror and repugnance; frightful and shocking: a gruesome murder. See Synonyms at ghastly. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Some Muslims have been sceptical of bin Laden's death, especially as the United States has said it will not release what it called gruesome images of his corpse for fear of inciting more violence."
• "WASHINGTON Reuters - The Obama administration wrestled on Tuesday with releasing what it called a gruesome image of Osama bin Laden's corpse, even as militants started questioning whether U.S. forces really killed him."
• "Despite being the one running around trying to save killers and judges and lawyers from being slaughtered in gruesome fashion, Nick felt like more of a villain -- albeit an impotent one -- than Clyde."