1
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent
a ghastly murder that shocked even hard-bitten detectives
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
I'm afraid that there's been a ghastly misunderstanding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in terrifying
causing fear
a ghastly crime that made local residents afraid to go out at night
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ghastly
Canadian politicians have directed considerable resources to trying to improve these ghastly trends.
—
David Frum, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2025
The burial pit was a ghastly scene.
—Outside, 10 Dec. 2025
Below, during a recent conversation with THR, Smith also discusses how Carol’s morally questionable behavior challenges the traditional definition of a hero, before addressing episode five’s ghastly cliffhanger.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 28 Nov. 2025
Last Week Tonight should always end its (usually incredibly distressing) shows with something people can do to stop whatever ghastly thing is the week’s topic.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ghastly
David Frum, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2025
The burial pit was a ghastly scene.
—Outside, 10 Dec. 2025
Below, during a recent conversation with THR, Smith also discusses how Carol’s morally questionable behavior challenges the traditional definition of a hero, before addressing episode five’s ghastly cliffhanger.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 28 Nov. 2025
Last Week Tonight should always end its (usually incredibly distressing) shows with something people can do to stop whatever ghastly thing is the week’s topic.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ghastly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ghastly
Adjective
-
And Margot Robbie gives the character a sharpness, an agency that’s a relief from the wilting Catherines of yore — which actually makes her ultimate gruesome fate feel that much more tragic.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
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Prisoners endured frequent selections, some by Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, known for his gruesome experiments on camp inmates.—
Lesley Stahl,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The employee, a mother of two teen girls, warned about the filters and said the pressure on teen girls is intense.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Brandon Flynn Nothing is more terrifying than a late-night host desperate to boost ratings.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
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The former Clemson star has discovered a fondness for poa annua, the strain of grass that get bumpy with spikes and footprints and late afternoon growth, and can be downright terrifying on short par putts when the greens are this fast.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Pregnancy was an offense punishable by death in the camps, yet all three women managed to survive horrific conditions, give birth and keep their newborns alive through seemingly impossible twists of fate and luck.—
Lesley Stahl,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
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His cinema verite style powerfully exposed the horrific inhumanity of public institutions (like hospitals, schools and housing projects) supposedly created to help people.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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These calculations are computationally intensive and only recently became feasible.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
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Modernizing manufacturing and automating industry will be energy-intensive.—
Stuart Loren,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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And for the next year its law enforcement members were hailed as heroes for their efforts that prevented a horrible situation from becoming even worse.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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There’s nary a crease to be seen in Bina Daigeler’s costumes, all covetable, unapproachable and tailored to the gods; Matthew Herbert’s score may be among the lushest ever slathered over such horrible goings-on.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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While Dunk emerged victorious in the trial, the battle was not without bloodshed and deaths, including a shocking one no one saw coming.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
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Saturday’s loss was neither KU’s biggest home loss, nor the most shocking, of the Self era.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The question was about the student section’s harassment of former Spartan Xavier Booker, which seemed like a legitimate query considering Booker had a terrible game.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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The move was expected because Hill, who played for the Chiefs from 2016-‘21 before being traded to the Dolphins, is recovering from a terrible knee injury.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ghastly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ghastly. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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