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Synonym Chooser

How is the word ghastly different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of ghastly are grisly, gruesome, lurid, and macabre. While all these words mean "horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect," ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts.

a ghastly accident

How do grisly and gruesome relate to one another, in the sense of ghastly?

Both grisly and gruesome suggest additionally the results of extreme violence or cruelty.

an unusually grisly murder
suffered a gruesome death

How are the words lurid and gruesome related as synonyms of ghastly?

Lurid adds to gruesome the suggestion of shuddering fascination with violent death and especially with murder.

the lurid details of a crime

When might macabre be a better fit than ghastly?

Although the words macabre and ghastly have much in common, macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death.

a macabre tale of premature burial

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ghastly The Phantom of the Opera (1925) is a benchmark for the ghastly horrors that accompany unrequited love, and Chaney's twisted character will go to absurd lengths to have his way. Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025 Golden State committed 20 turnovers, a ghastly 14 of them in the first half. Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025 A day later, the inevitable became reality as the Beavers fired coach Trent Bray following another ghastly loss in a gruesome season. Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025 The third inning played out similarly to how the ghastly Game 5 of the 2024 World Series did for the Yankees. Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ghastly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ghastly
Adjective
  • Von had been Trump-friendly before the gruesome and heartbreaking videos of the ICE raids targeting working immigrants started going viral on social media.
    Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Daniels suffered his gruesome non-throwing-arm injury during the fourth quarter of Week 9's blowout loss to the Seahawks.
    Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Gas and dust fall into a rotating disk around the black hole, and as the debris spirals more rapidly, it becomes superheated, releasing intense radiation.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
  • True Ipomea batatas has bright orange flesh (although modern varieties have much more intense colors than older forms), occasionally white and rarely purple.
    Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Episode 3 confirms that this is no mere nod to another Stephen King classic, when the young Black soldier showcases his unique powers in a thrilling and terrifying sequence.
    Andrew McGowan, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
  • That is, until Episode 3, when the terrifying harlequin seems to finally appear from the pitch black depths of a crypt inside the Derry cemetery.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • As this horrific scene is being investigated, prayers on behalf of our entire International Union are with those killed, injured, and affected, including their families, co-workers, and loved ones.
    Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The Washington Commanders took the brunt of criticism on Sunday after quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a horrific arm injury in the team’s 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Between 2022 and 2023, a team from Arkeologerna conducted an intensive investigation in the southernmost area of the former city.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The orbiters are expected to linger in a holding pattern before heading for Mars next year when the red planet is better aligned for a less fuel-intensive journey.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The New York native collected Golden Globe and Spirit awards for her performance as the title character, an aging Czechoslovakian actress forced to take a stand-in job in a horrible off-Broadway play, in Anna.
    Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Gano opening up about this comes on a horrible day for the football world after Dallas Cowboys second-year linebacker Marshawn Kneeland died by suicide at the age of 24.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Likewise, using the military to patrol the border is not a shocking mission.
    Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
  • The numbers game was too great before Rhea Ripley made her shocking return from an injury.
    Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The groundbreaking research penetrated the last moments of the young nobleman, who suffered a terrible 26 blows.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2025
  • History is full of cases where great bands make terrible records, yet history stands speechless at what the Clash accomplished here.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ghastly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ghastly. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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