Definition of macabrenext

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

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 This delicate piece features embroidery that recreates hair tentacles, like a macabre bride marrying the natural world to Surrealism. Literary Hub, 11 May 2026 Organizers describe the event as a lifestyle celebration for the gothic and macabre community to feel at home. Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 6 May 2026 His miniature fingernail polish paintings of everyday objects — a purse, a lipstick tube, a stiletto — are equal parts playful and macabre. Tara Anne Dalbow, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2026 Connecting the dots Back in 2022, Dixon and Cove, who works for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, made a rather macabre discovery, but one that has turned out to be a silver lining in the war against the Burmese python. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for macabre
Recent Examples of Synonyms for macabre
Adjective
  • Chris Brown was found liable by a Los Angeles jury on Tuesday for $13 million in the gruesome case of a dog that mauled and disfigured his housekeeper at his home in 2020.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 1 July 2026
  • But as the days dragged on, headlines about power outages and water shortages took a back seat to a far more gruesome and horrific reality.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • Chicago city officials have never forgotten the lessons of the historic and horrific heat wave of July 1995, which killed 739 people in the Chicago area.
    Darius Johnson, CBS News, 29 June 2026
  • Many of these countries are well known for horrific human rights abuses, lack of justice and abysmal detention conditions.
    Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Cape Verde began this run by making a statement, producing a shocking 0-0 draw against soccer powerhouse Spain on June 15 in its first-ever World Cup match.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
  • The Packers then blew a 21-3 halftime lead in the Wild Card round against Chicago, gave up 25 fourth quarter points and eventually suffered a shocking 31-27 loss to the arch-rival Bears.
    Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Macabre.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/macabre. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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