ghoulish
Americanadjective
-
strangely diabolical or cruel; monstrous.
a ghoulish and questionable sense of humor.
-
showing fascination with death, disease, maiming, etc.; morbid.
ghoulish curiosity.
-
of, relating to, or like a ghoul or ghouls.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ghoulish
Explanation
Ghoulish things are scary or morbid. A ghoulish sense of humor favors jokes about death and gore. An interest in other people's misfortune could be called ghoulish, and so could a fascination with deadly car accidents or plane crashes. The horrified feeling you might get when you think about death is the essence of something ghoulish. This adjective comes from ghoul, "an evil spirit," from the Arabic ġūl, a mythological corpse-eating demon.
Vocabulary lists containing ghoulish
Mardi Gras: Faith
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!
"The Witches" by Roald Dahl, Chapters 6–11
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 Suffix -ish, Part 3
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!
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.
The Independent described it as a "ghoulish, soulless cash grab".
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
What makes the character indelible is the ghoulish heavy makeup, a bright red wig with tiny bangs, and oversized tinted sunglasses -- a cartoonish look that has gone viral.
From Barron's ● Mar. 15, 2026
He takes this ghoulish stance in the name of making “The Five” more entertaining.
From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2026
Critics of prediction markets decry betting on wars as ghoulish and tasteless.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026
I knew it would be torturous to go through the thick blackness of Uncle Willie’s bedroom, but it would be easier than staying around to hear the ghoulish story.
From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
