as in demons
an evil spirit
in Arabic folklore, ghouls could change their shapes but had one unchanging feature: donkey's hooves for feet
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ghouls
Jack-o-lanterns, ghouls and goblins are around every corner, but the scariest creatures of all might be thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface.
—
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
Forget goblins and ghouls—being secretly watched and filmed by a stranger is one of my worst fears, especially as a solo female traveler.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025
Once the beyond-the-grave comeuppance arrives, this short is just standard shambling ghouls and raining blood.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
This year’s Halloween costumes will feature everything from on-screen favorites to glittery ghouls.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2025
The adorable design is perfect for welcoming little ghosts and ghouls on Halloween night.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2025
But according to Jason, his dad had some notes about the film’s inclusion of some of the ghouls from the 1984 original.
—John Russell, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Monstrous ghouls cheering after the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City on Wednesday are ubiquitous on social media.
—Dominic Pino, National Review, 5 Dec. 2024
In Fallout, ghouls have extended lifespans and are impervious to things that would kill humans, like losing a limb or eating rotten flesh.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
Forget goblins and ghouls—being secretly watched and filmed by a stranger is one of my worst fears, especially as a solo female traveler.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025
Once the beyond-the-grave comeuppance arrives, this short is just standard shambling ghouls and raining blood.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
This year’s Halloween costumes will feature everything from on-screen favorites to glittery ghouls.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2025
The adorable design is perfect for welcoming little ghosts and ghouls on Halloween night.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2025
But according to Jason, his dad had some notes about the film’s inclusion of some of the ghouls from the 1984 original.
—John Russell, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Monstrous ghouls cheering after the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City on Wednesday are ubiquitous on social media.
—Dominic Pino, National Review, 5 Dec. 2024
In Fallout, ghouls have extended lifespans and are impervious to things that would kill humans, like losing a limb or eating rotten flesh.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ghouls
Noun
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Parker’s series starts out with too much bellowing and yelling along with hazing and bullying but loosens up and broadens out to peer into the lives of other recruits who are wrestling with demons and sometimes each other.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
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When their biggest demonic enemy (Lee Byung-hun) encourages the formation of an equally popular K-pop boy band aimed at stealing the souls of their fans, the trio has to fight harder than ever to hold the demons at bay while keeping their friendship intact.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Yes, Sparks believes in ghosts.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
12 Oct. 2025
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Despite a few ghosts, Billy's has remained a popular spot, with pizzas and burgers being the go-to items on the menu.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In Anne Rice lore, Akasha is known as the progenitor of all vampires.—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
10 Oct. 2025
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Probably Solomon Kane was the biggest [influence] besides Conan, this kind of mashup of puritan warrior priest and vampires and monsters and the undead and all these things.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Whether or not Alice lived happily ever after, Gertrude seems to have done so, at least once her devils were banished by inscrutability.—
Judith Thurman,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
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Weapons seems to break such cycles, leaving no more devils hiding in basements or upstairs bedrooms playing with dolls or ribbons of hair.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ghouls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ghouls. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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