morbid

[mawr-bid]

adjective

suggesting an unhealthy mental state or attitude; unwholesomely gloomy, sensitive, extreme, etc.: a morbid interest in death.

affected by, caused by, causing, or characteristic of disease.

pertaining to diseased parts: morbid anatomy.

gruesome; grisly.

Origin of morbid

1650–60; < Latin morbidus sickly, equivalent to morb(us) sickness + -idus -id⁴

Related formsmor·bid·ly, adverbmor·bid·ness, nounpre·mor·bid, adjectivepre·mor·bid·ly, adverbpre·mor·bid·ness, nounun·mor·bid, adjectiveun·mor·bid·ly, adverbun·mor·bid·ness, noun

Synonyms for morbid

2. unwholesome, diseased, unhealthy, sick, sickly; tainted, corrupted, vitiated.

Antonyms for morbid

1. cheerful. 2. healthy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for morbidness

Historical Examples of morbidness

It will not do to dismiss this as unhealthiness or morbidness of mind.
Understanding the Scriptures
Francis McConnell
Beyond this morbidness of misapprehension, there was no other morbidness in Hetty's state.
Hetty's Strange History
Anonymous
A strong protest against "morbidness" was on her lips, but she did not speak it.
Marriage la mode
Mrs. Humphry Ward
And is this progress in a durable sense, or morbidness in evolution?
The Life and Letters of Lafcadio Hearn, Volume 2
Elizabeth Bisland
His expressions about the reception of his History, have a tinge of morbidness.
Life and Correspondence of David Hume, Volume I (of 2)
John Hill Burton

British Dictionary definitions for morbidness

morbid

adjective

having an unusual interest in death or unpleasant events

gruesome

relating to or characterized by disease; pathologica morbid growth

Derived Formsmorbidly, adverbmorbidness, noun

Word Origin for morbid

C17: from Latin morbidus sickly, from morbus illness

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

Word Origin and History for morbidness

morbid

adj.

1650s, "of the nature of a disease, indicative of a disease," from Latin morbidus "diseased," from morbus "sickness, disease, ailment, illness," from root of mori "to die," which is possibly from PIE root *mer- "to rub, pound, wear away" (cf. Sanskrit mrnati "crushes, bruises;" Greek marainein "to consume, exhaust, put out, quench," marasmus "consumption"). Transferred use, of mental states, is from 1777. Related: Morbidly; morbidness.

morbidness in Medicine

morbid

[môr′bĭd]

adj.

Relating to or caused by disease; pathological or diseased.

Psychologically unhealthy or unwholesome.