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 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of macabre The rampage turned festive Bourbon Street into a macabre scene of maimed victims, bloodied bodies and pedestrians fleeing for safety inside nightclubs and restaurants. —

Eric Tucker, Jim Mustian, TIME, 2 Jan. 2025 The rampage turned festive Bourbon Street into macabre mayhem. —

Jack Brook, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2025 There's nothing immaculate about the macabre scares, however. —

Griff Griffin, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024 Nor, for that matter, does Squid Game have much new to say on the subject of income inequality, which is the whole point of this macabre story. —

Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 26 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for macabre

Recent Examples of Synonyms for macabre

Adjective

Shanks brilliantly paces the story out with several pieces of foreshadowing, including a rat king as symbolism for toxic codependency, mirroring a gruesome story Tim tells Millie about his father’s death and his mother’s mental health.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2025
Unlike the gruesome, bloodthirsty creatures of classic films and literature, Cullen and his family abstain from drinking the blood of humans.

— Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025