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

mə-ˈkäb

Definition of macabre

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

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of macabre That something new is Bowling with Corpses and Other Strange Tales from Lands Unknown (now on sale from Dark Horse Comics), a collection of deliciously macabre stories loosely inspired by folklore found ‘round the world. —Josh Weiss, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 Frontman Bryan Garris let out a mighty pig squeal as guest vocalist Poppy thrashed and screamed across the stage, dressed like an even more macabre girl from The Ring. —Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2025 A couple walking by a footbridge above the highway was stunned by the macabre scene. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2025 Poe, known for his macabre and Gothic style, was no stranger to audiences. —Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for macabre

Recent Examples of Synonyms for macabre

Adjective

The 6-foot-3 senior suffered a gruesome injury in Green Mountain’s 3A quarterfinal win over Severance on Nov. 22.

— Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025
Who was Charles Manson? Manson was a cult leader in the late 1960s known for orchestrating gruesome murders in Los Angeles.

— William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025