1
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent
a ghastly murder that shocked even hard-bitten detectives
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
I'm afraid that there's been a ghastly misunderstanding
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3
as in terrifying
causing fear
a ghastly crime that made local residents afraid to go out at night
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ghastly
His naïveté was on full display, as well as his ghastly poor judgment.
—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2025
The Sunset Mesa case, along with subsequent ghastly funeral home revelations, prompted Colorado lawmakers to close loopholes in state statutes surrounding the regulation of the industry.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2025
Weeks after the zoo held an official funeral for its animals, two of the three elephants that were not actually dead continued to suffer, their cages covered in bunting so the public would not see the ghastly evidence.
—John M. Kinder, The Conversation, 1 May 2025
The team, which has a ghastly 1-13 record in potential series-clinching games who will almost certainly meet an inglorious and spectacular ending if that mark falls to 1-15 by the end of the weekend.
—Chris Johnston, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ghastly
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2025
The Sunset Mesa case, along with subsequent ghastly funeral home revelations, prompted Colorado lawmakers to close loopholes in state statutes surrounding the regulation of the industry.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2025
Weeks after the zoo held an official funeral for its animals, two of the three elephants that were not actually dead continued to suffer, their cages covered in bunting so the public would not see the ghastly evidence.
—John M. Kinder, The Conversation, 1 May 2025
The team, which has a ghastly 1-13 record in potential series-clinching games who will almost certainly meet an inglorious and spectacular ending if that mark falls to 1-15 by the end of the weekend.
—Chris Johnston, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ghastly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ghastly
Adjective
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Larvae of the parasitic fly chew through flesh, transforming small nicks into big, gruesome wounds.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2025
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The gruesome recovery comes in the wake of a gruesome February incident, when a body was found inside a suitcase floating in the East River.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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But Tranter and Bartlett said Trump may settle roughly into this range of having an approval rating between 43 percent and 47 percent given the intense polarization of the country, as has been common in the past couple administrations.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
31 May 2025
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Residents of Maoming, China were treated to a celestial light show earlier this week when a surprise fireball burst to life overhead, illuminating the city before disappearing in an intense flare of light.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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May has been equally terrifying for Ukrainian civilians.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
27 May 2025
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As the mysterious contract killer Vincent, Cruise brings his usual on-screen qualities — strict professionalism, precise physicality, ruthless persistence — but turns them on their head to embody a terrifying, amoral murderer.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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The war has carried a horrific toll for Gazans, with many dead amid the fighting and whole neighborhoods razed to the ground.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
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Instead of just ending on that horrific moment, the show then cuts to Abby several days earlier.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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Ryan Murphy has found his Kennedys after an intensive casting search for the first installment of his new FX anthology series, American Love Story.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
13 May 2025
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The department conducts an annual review of each state, and a more intensive one that’s supposed to be completed roughly every five years.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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There’s no doubt that Lewis, abandoned as a baby by his parents, has done some horrible stuff.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
26 May 2025
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Given the horrible economic incentives that government regulation has created, the surprise is not that some patients experience mistreatment.—
John C. Goodman,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Read more: Lakers' Bronny James Among NBA's Elite in One Unique Category Following the shocking comeback victory, Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark could not contain her excitement.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 May 2025
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While many have praised the tenacity of the 28-year-old Georgia woman, others have expressed doubts about the veracity of her shocking survival story and have criticized her family’s fundraising motives.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Djokovic knew he’d be seeded to play one of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev or Taylor Fritz in the quarters, and in the end landed Zverev, which isn’t a terrible outcome, but would leave him with a possible Sinner-Alcaraz double bill in the semifinals and final to lift the trophy.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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One night the fish was very overcooked and covered with a terrible sauce.—
Sheah Rarback,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ghastly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ghastly. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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