ghoul

noun

ˈgül 

1

: a legendary evil being that robs graves and feeds on corpses

2

: one suggestive of a ghoul

especially : one who shows morbid interest in things considered shocking or repulsive

Synonyms

• demon
• ghost
• vampire
• devil

Examples of ghoul in a Sentence

in Arabic folklore, ghouls could change their shapes but had one unchanging feature: donkey's hooves for feet

Recent Examples on the Web

How will the weather affect the goblins, ghosts and ghouls in your neighborhood on Halloween evening? —Doyle Rice, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025

But this Halloween, chasing away the ghouls haunting Tesla looks like a miracle too far. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025

Todd hobbles into each frame like a joyless ghoul, hating the cameras and hating his wife for bringing them into his world. —Tom Smyth, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025

Haunted Trail takes visitors outdoors through a path with dense fog and several haunting installations with zombies, a ghoul bus, a graveyard filled with ghosts, chainsaw maniacs and more. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Arabic ghūl

First Known Use

1721, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ghoul

• boule
• brule
• buhl
• cool
• drool
• fool
• mule
• pool
• poul
• rule
• school
• spool

Kids Definition

ghoul

noun

ˈgül 

1

: an evil being of legend that robs graves and feeds on corpses

2

: a person (as a grave robber) whose activities suggest those of a ghoul

ghoulish

ˈgü-lish 

adjective

ghoulishly adverb

ghoulishness noun