ghastly
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.ghast·ly
adjective \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
See Examples of GHASTLY
- You're making a ghastly mistake.
- 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
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>.
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