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gro·tesque
 grotesque
- pronunciation:
- gro
tesk
- parts of speech:
- adjective, noun
- features:
- Word History
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
unnatural, distorted, or ugly in character or appearance.
- synonyms:
- distorted, misshapen
- similar words:
- bizarre, hideous, ugly, unnatural
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| definition 2: |
fantastic or unnatural in the design or combination of forms, as in artwork combining incongruous human and animal features.
- similar words:
- bizarre, fantastic, outlandish, preposterous, unnatural
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| related words: |
baroque, burlesque, gruesome, monstrous, peculiar, unsightly, weird |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
one that is grotesque.
- similar words:
- freak, gargoyle
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| definition 2: |
an art style of sixteenth-century Italy that employed grotesque designs and forms.
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| derivations: |
grotesquely (adv.), grotesqueness (n.) |
Grotesque comes from grotta, an early Italian word for "cave." English speakers first used the word "grotesque" to describe the weird paintings of humans and animals found on the basement walls of Roman ruins.
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