Synonyms of macabre

macabre

adjective

mə-ˈkäb 

as in gruesome

extremely disturbing or repellent

a macabre movie about animated corpses

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gruesome
• horrific
• shocking
• nightmare
• frightening
• horrifying
• horrible
• terrible
• grisly
• terrifying
• terrific
• scary
• hideous
• nightmarish
• dreadful
• awful
• ghastly
• sickening
• appalling
• lurid
• frightful
• horrid
• monstrous
• disgusting
• horrendous
• atrocious
• alarming
• grotesque
• fearful
• obscene
• dire
• ugly
• formidable
• repulsive
• revolting
• offensive
• loathsome
• direful
• repugnant
• heinous
• unspeakable
• bloodcurdling
• abhorrent
• intimidating
• odious
• forbidding
• disagreeable
• deplorable
• evil
• abominable
• fearsome
• gut-wrenching
• obnoxious
• distasteful
• vile
• hair-raising
• heart-stopping
• nauseating
• redoubtable
• noxious
• noisome
• unsightly
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• delightful
• pleasant
• attractive
• delicious
• appealing
• welcome
• enjoyable
• agreeable
• satisfying
• delectable
• pleasurable
• enticing
• pleasing
• inviting
• comforting
• soothing
• cheering

Synonym Chooser

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of macabre

Orcas are known to play with their food—passing dying prey around to one another, for example, like a macabre game of hot potato. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 23 July 2026

Now, Porsha is sharpening her knives before going in for the kill, adding a hilarious edge to an already delightfully macabre episode. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 20 July 2026

Simon Helberg is looking back on the 'strange, macabre version' of the Big Bang Theory pilot which never aired. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026

The original sitcom followed the goings-on of a macabre family and has since spawned reboots, movies, reunions, and all kinds of delightfully dark iterations. — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

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