Synonyms of ghastly

ghastly

adjective

ˈgast-lē 

1

as in gruesome

extremely disturbing or repellent

a ghastly murder that shocked even hard-bitten detectives

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gruesome
• horrific
• shocking
• nightmare
• horrible
• terrible
• horrifying
• hideous
• frightening
• dreadful
• terrific
• terrifying
• awful
• grisly
• horrid
• appalling
• nightmarish
• scary
• macabre
• sickening
• frightful
• horrendous
• monstrous
• atrocious
• lurid
• disgusting
• grewsome
• alarming
• fearful
• ugly
• grotesque
• loathsome
• obscene
• formidable
• dire
• revolting
• repulsive
• abominable
• direful
• heinous
• offensive
• odious
• deplorable
• unspeakable
• disagreeable
• repugnant
• fearsome
• abhorrent
• obnoxious
• vile
• forbidding
• evil
• intimidating
• distasteful
• redoubtable
• gut-wrenching
• bloodcurdling
• nauseating
• noxious
• noisome
• hair-raising
• unsightly
• heart-stopping
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasant
• delightful
• attractive
• delicious
• welcome
• agreeable
• appealing
• enjoyable
• satisfying
• delectable
• pleasurable
• pleasing
• enticing
• inviting
• comforting
• soothing
• cheering

2

as in intense

extreme in degree, power, or effect

I'm afraid that there's been a ghastly misunderstanding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intense
• intensive
• terrible
• fierce
• ferocious
• deep
• furious
• heavy
• dreadful
• violent
• vicious
• profound
• frightful
• acute
• fearful
• explosive
• exquisite
• fearsome
• excruciating
• blistering
• vehement
• keen
• heavy-duty
• hard
• hellacious
• almighty
• intensified
• harsh
• aggravated
• heightened
• severe
• concentrated
• enhanced
• magnified
• exhaustive
• thorough
• stressed
• accentuated
• deepened
• rigorous
• emphasized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• moderate
• soft
• feeble
• weak
• superficial
• shallow
• qualified
• decreased
• eased
• toned (down)
• moderated
• subdued
• reduced
• diminished
• lightened
• lessened
• alleviated
• abated

3

as in terrifying

causing fear

a ghastly crime that made local residents afraid to go out at night

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terrifying
• horrible
• formidable
• frightening
• terrible
• scary
• intimidating
• dread
• alarming
• horrifying
• dreadful
• shocking
• fearful
• eerie
• frightful
• startling
• horrendous
• creepy
• direful
• gruesome
• fearsome
• dire
• forbidding
• eery
• redoubtable
• spine-chilling
• troubling
• disturbing
• trying
• hair-raising
• hideous
• threatening
• unnerving
• dismaying
• discouraging
• daunting
• disconcerting
• disquieting
• perturbing
• weird
• grisly
• demoralizing
• horrid
• distressing
• nightmarish
• appalling
• awful
• macabre
• monstrous
• atrocious
• bone-chilling
• grewsome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• comforting
• soothing
• relaxing
• calming
• inviting
• consoling
• tranquilizing
• quieting
• nonthreatening
• tranquillizing
• lulling
• pacifying
• nonintimidating

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ghastly different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of ghastly are grisly, gruesome, lurid, and macabre. While all these words mean "horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect," ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts.

a ghastly accident

How do grisly and gruesome relate to one another, in the sense of ghastly?

Both grisly and gruesome suggest additionally the results of extreme violence or cruelty.

an unusually grisly murder

suffered a gruesome death

How are the words lurid and gruesome related as synonyms of ghastly?

Lurid adds to gruesome the suggestion of shuddering fascination with violent death and especially with murder.

the lurid details of a crime

When might macabre be a better fit than ghastly?

Although the words macabre and ghastly have much in common, macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death.

a macabre tale of premature burial

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ghastly

The circulating air currents of the cave then carry those spores to find new potential hosts, and the ghastly cycle begins again. —Michael Irving, New Atlas, 2 Feb. 2025

The ghastly damage to my neighborhood was a complete shock. —James R. Riffel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025

Her beheading was a ghastly sight, shocking even to the man who had done much to bring it about—the King’s adviser Thomas Cromwell (Mark Rylance), who used threats of ruin and torture to drum up witnesses against Anne. —Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025

The house comes with some very bad mojo, and was the site of a ghastly murder of a previous family that lived there. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025