MACABRE Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'macabre' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of macabre are ghastly , grisly , gruesome , and lurid . While all these words mean "horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect," macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death. // a macabre tale of premature burial

Q: When would 'ghastly' be a good substitute for 'macabre'?

The synonyms ghastly and macabre are sometimes interchangeable, but ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts. // a ghastly accident

Q: How are the words 'grisly' and 'gruesome' related as synonyms of 'macabre'?

Both grisly and gruesome suggest additionally the results of extreme violence or cruelty. // an unusually grisly murder // suffered a gruesome death

Q: How do 'lurid' and 'gruesome' relate to one another, in the sense of 'macabre'?

Lurid adds to gruesome the suggestion of shuddering fascination with violent death and especially with murder. // the lurid details of a crime

macabre

adjective

Definition of macabre next

as in gruesome

extremely disturbing or repellent a macabre movie about animated corpses

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

Some common synonyms of macabre are ghastly, grisly, gruesome, and lurid. While all these words mean "horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect," macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death.

a macabre tale of premature burial

When would ghastly be a good substitute for macabre?

The synonyms ghastly and macabre are sometimes interchangeable, but ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts.

a ghastly accident

How are the words grisly and gruesome related as synonyms of macabre?

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

an unusually grisly murder

suffered a gruesome death

How do lurid and gruesome relate to one another, in the sense of macabre?

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

the lurid details of a crime