Grotesque meaning

What does “grotesque” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“grotesque” is a noun and adjective with 3 meanings. Its most common meaning is: art characterized by an incongruous mixture of parts of humans and animals interwoven with plants.

grotesque

noun

  1. art characterized by an incongruous mixture of parts of humans and animals interwoven with plants

adjective

  1. distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous

    “tales of grotesque serpents eight fathoms long that churned the seas”

    “twisted into monstrous shapes”

    Synonymsmonstrous
  2. ludicrously odd

    “Hamlet's assumed antic disposition”

    “fantastic Halloween costumes”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University