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danse macabre

American  
[dahns ma-ka-bruh] / dɑ̃s maˈka brə /
danse macabre British  
/ dɑ̃s makɑbrə /

noun

  1. another name for dance of death

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of danse macabre

From French

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.

See Examples For:

In contrast to the danse macabre sequences at the deathbed, Jill overhears the “celebratory sound” of a neighbor’s back yard evening wedding by torchlight.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 26, 2026

The three friends try to find their rhythm in the steps of the danse macabre she creates, even as old dance patterns of desire and friendship bring them closer to the encroaching flames.

From Los Angeles Times May 14, 2025

Written for the Isarphilharmonie, the work explored opposites of sound: the full might of the ensemble in a danse macabre versus a chamber group from just the principal strings.

From New York Times Oct. 12, 2021

Animal and worker are locked in a danse macabre, together physically degenerating to produce ever more marginal profit.

From The Guardian Sep. 8, 2020

And then he lay there as the danse macabre of the demons of fear that lived in his body began in earnest.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

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