Ugliness & Grotesque Vocabulary

comically or repulsively ugly or distorted

“The grotesque masks were designed to frighten spirits away.”

obtrusively bright and showy; lurid

“The garish neon signs dominated the landscape.”

extravagantly bright or showy in a tasteless way

“The gaudy decorations overwhelmed the small room.”

characterized by pretentious or showy display

“His ostentatious wealth made others uncomfortable.”

showy but cheap and of poor quality

“The tawdry imitation lacked the original's charm.”

apparently attractive but having no real value

“The meretricious promises of quick wealth lured victims.”

disturbing because concerned with death and injury

“The macabre tales of Edgar Allan Poe still terrify readers.”

very vivid in color; sensational or shocking

“The lurid headlines exaggerated the story's importance.”

a grotesque carved figure; an ugly person

“Stone gargoyles jutted from the cathedral walls.”

ugly or disgusting to look at

“The hideous monster in the film terrified audiences.”