Dictionary.com

Popular Searches

 Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

ghoulish

American  
[goo-lish] / ˈgu lɪʃ /

adjective

  1. strangely diabolical or cruel; monstrous.

    a ghoulish and questionable sense of humor.

  2. showing fascination with death, disease, maiming, etc.; morbid.

    ghoulish curiosity.

  3. of, relating to, or like a ghoul or ghouls.

ˈghoulish British  
/ ˈɡuːlɪʃ /

adjective

  1. of or relating to ghouls; morbid or disgusting; unhealthily interested in 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

Other Word Forms

  • ghoulishly adverb
  • ghoulishness noun

Etymology

Origin of ghoulish

First recorded in 1835–45; ghoul + -ish 1

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.

He takes this ghoulish stance in the name of making “The Five” more entertaining.

From Salon

As guests pass through the foyer and enter Disneyland’s popular Haunted Mansion attraction, a ghoulish host delivers one last chilling message: “There’s no turning back now.”

From Los Angeles Times

Stephen jumped out of his skin when a ghoulish hand shot out of a grave during one of the missions - much to Claudia's delight.

From BBC

Critics of prediction markets decry betting on wars as ghoulish and tasteless.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Boo! Boo! Watch me, Fredrick. What fun! Doesn’t this look ghoulish?”

From Literature

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.