What is the difference between grisly and gruesome?

[Mirko]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #240 "Confusing Words test (14)", question 9

While the family was camping, they heard a loud growl in the bushes. They were afraid that it might be a bear because they were camping in ......... country.

(a) grisly
(b) gruesome
(c) grizzly

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #240 "Confusing Words test (14)", answer 9

While the family was camping, they heard a loud growl in the bushes. They were afraid that it might be a bear because they were camping in grizzly country.

Correct answer: (c) grizzly
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What is the difference between grisly and gruesome?

Mirko

[Beeesneees]

'grizzly' here refers to a specific animal. The 'grizzly bear' is a species of brown bear from North America. The tips of its fur are greyish in colour - a grizzled person or a person with grizzled hair has hair that is grey or partly grey.

Gruesome means extremely unpleasant and shocking.
"There has been a gruesome murder in the county."
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Cheers m' dears!

[Linda]

Hi Mirko,
Grisly: shocking, horrible, gruesome etc.
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[Beeesneees]

Because of the copied/pasted question, I assumed the poster meant 'grizzly' and it was a mis-spelling.

If not, then there is no significant difference. They are synonyms.
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