grotesque
/ɡrəʊˈtesk/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡrəʊˈtesk/ (ame, ipa) · /grō-ˈtesk/ (ame, mw) · /ɡroʊˈtesk/ (ame, ipa)
grotesque — adjective
- grotesquepositive
- more grotesquecomparative
- most grotesquesuperlative
1. extremely ugly, unusual, or strange in a way that is disturbing, absurd, or slig
extremely ugly, unusual, or strange in a way that is disturbing, absurd, or slightly frightening — like a face twisted into a painful expression or a building covered in odd-shaped decorations.
A grotesque mask with bulging eyes hung on the wall of the old theatre.
grotesque as premodifier of a physically distorted object
Visitors found the ancient carnival statues grotesque, with their twisted limbs and broken smiles.
find + object + grotesque (complex object complement)
The old oak tree had grown into such a grotesque shape that children refused to play near it.
Yuki thought the gargoyles on the cathedral roof looked grotesque against the dark evening sky.
The temple guardian statues had such grotesque expressions that Nadia felt uneasy walking past them.
用法筆記
Commonly used with the verbs 'look', 'seem', 'appear', and in the pattern 'find + object + grotesque' to express a personal reaction.
常見錯誤
2. so wrong, unfair, or morally offensive that it shocks you — used about actions,
so wrong, unfair, or morally offensive that it shocks you — used about actions, decisions, or situations that are far beyond what is normally acceptable.
It is grotesque that the factory owners received bonuses after cutting workers' pay.
it is grotesque that + clause (judgement pattern)
The judge described the prison conditions as a grotesque violation of human rights.
Wei was angered by the grotesque inequality between the rich neighborhoods and the nearby slums.
Human rights groups find the treatment of refugees in that camp absolutely grotesque.
- outrageous
more common in everyday speech; slightly less formal
- appalling
emphasizes the feeling of shock or horror it causes
- shocking
broader in meaning; can describe anything that surprises
- just
the opposite of unfair
- reasonable
the opposite of extreme or shocking
用法筆記
This sense is used almost exclusively with abstract nouns describing actions or situations (inequality, injustice, violation, hypocrisy, treatment), never with physical objects or people's appearance. Distinguish from sense 1, which describes appearance or physical form.
常見錯誤
grotesque — noun
- grotesquesingular
- grotesquesplural
1. a style of art, or an individual work of art, that uses strange, ugly, or unnatu
a style of art, or an individual work of art, that uses strange, ugly, or unnatural forms — often mixing human and animal features in a way that is absurd or disturbing.
The artist's latest work is a grotesque that blends human faces with bird-like beaks and claws.
countable noun: a grotesque = an individual artwork in this style
The museum's exhibition features stone grotesques from medieval churches across Europe.
grotesques as plural count noun (carved figures)
Diego spent hours studying the grotesques carved into the pillars of the old palace.
These Roman grotesques depict strange winged creatures with scales and human arms.
- gargoyle
a specific type of grotesque carving that also functions as a water spout; not all grotesques are gargoyles
- caricature
a drawing that exaggerates features in a funny way; less disturbing and typically not three-dimensional
用法筆記
As a countable noun, 'a grotesque' refers to a single artwork or carved figure; as an uncountable noun (without article), it refers to the artistic style or genre. Many grotesques are architectural carvings on churches and cathedrals.