Definitions

ghastly

[gast-lee] / ˈgæst li /

ADJECTIVE

horrifying, dreadful; pale

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appalling awful frightening frightful ghostly ghoulish grim grisly gruesome hideous horrendous horrible horrid lurid macabre shocking sickening terrible terrifying unpleasant

WEAK

abhorrent anemic ashen bloodless cadaverous corpselike deathlike dim disgusting faint funereal haggard livid loathsome mortuary nauseating offensive pallid repellent repulsive sepulchral spectral supernatural uncanny unearthly unnatural wan weak wraithlike

Antonyms

STRONGEST

beautiful comforting delightful good great nice pleasant pleasing pretty wonderful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While adamantly miserabilist, it does have a plot or at least one shocking plot point that’s so ghastly it made me giddy.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

Messrs. Hanke and Walker write that the fiscal picture is far worse even than it appears on the ghastly federal balance sheet:

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Kirk’s death was ghastly and contemptible, but in a media environment and country conditioned to move on, its shock is already beginning to wear off.

From Salon • Sep. 24, 2025

Some conservative backlash seems to come from the idea that Kirk’s page should double as an online memorial, smoothing away his edges out of respect for the ghastly way he died.

From Slate • Sep. 17, 2025

A woman read the Big Chief statement and screamed, summoning her companions to draw aside from the ghastly apparition that had appeared at their art show.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Vocabulary lists containing ghastly

"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

100 SAT Words Beginning with "G"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

"The Open Window"

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!