ghastly
ghastly Lexical Profile
ghastly Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Causing great horror, fear, or shock; macabre or frightful.
"The investigators uncovered the details of a ghastly crime that shocked the entire community."
Extremely unpleasant, objectionable, or of very poor quality.
"They decided to redecorate the living room to get rid of the ghastly wallpaper chosen by the previous owners."
Extremely unwell, deathly pale, or ghostlike in appearance.
"After spending three days in bed with the flu, he looked positively ghastly when he finally came downstairs."
• adverb
To a frightening, dreadful, or deathly degree (typically used before adjectives denoting paleness or unpleasantness).
"The patient's face was ghastly pale as the paramedics wheeled him into the emergency room."
• Rhymes for ghastly
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Middle English 'gastlich', from Old English 'gæstlic' (terrifying or dreary), related to the verb 'gæstan' (to torment or frighten). The 'gh-' spelling arose in the 16th century by association with 'ghost'.