ghastly

ghast·ly

adj \ˈgast-lē\

ghast·li·erghast·li·est

Definition of GHASTLY

1

a : terrifyingly horrible to the senses : frightening <a ghastly crime> b : intensely unpleasant, disagreeable, or objectionable <such a life seems ghastly in its emptiness and sterility — Aldous Huxley>

2

: resembling a ghost

3

obsolete : filled with fear

4

: very great <a ghastly mistake>

— ghast·li·ness noun

— ghastly adverb

Examples of GHASTLY

1. You're making a ghastly mistake.
2. His room was a ghastly mess.

Origin of GHASTLY

Middle English gastly, from gasten to terrify — more at gast

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to GHASTLY

Synonyms: appalling, atrocious, awful, dreadful, frightful, horrible, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), hideous, horrendous, horrid, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmare, nightmarish, shocking, terrible, terrific

Antonyms: light, moderate, soft

Related Words: alarming, bloodcurdling, dire, direful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, gut-wrenching, hair-raising, heart-stopping, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, terrifying; abhorrent, deplorable, disagreeable, disgusting, distasteful, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, obscene, offensive, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, sickening; abominable, evil, foul, heinous, noxious, odious, unspeakable, vile; grotesque, ugly, unsightly

Near Antonyms: agreeable, appealing, attractive, delectable, delicious, delightful, enjoyable, enticing, inviting, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome; cheering, comforting, soothing

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Synonym Discussion of GHASTLY

ghastly, grisly, gruesome, macabre, lurid mean horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect. ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts <a ghastly accident>. grisly and gruesome suggest additionally the results of extreme violence or cruelty <an unusually grisly murder> <suffered a gruesome death>. macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death <a macabre tale of premature burial>. lurid adds to gruesome the suggestion of shuddering fascination with violent death and especially with murder <the lurid details of a crime>.

Rhymes with GHASTLY

lastly, vastly