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Definition of ghoulish

ghoulish

/ˈɡuː.lɪʃ/
ghoul · ish
Adverb:ghoulishly
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ghoulish Lexical Profile

ghoulish Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Morbidly interested in death, disaster, or human suffering; shockingly macabre, gruesome, or repulsive.

Example

"The reporters were criticized for their ghoulish fascination with the tragic accident."

2

Resembling or characteristic of a ghoul or phantom; eerie, spectral, or frightening in appearance.

Example

"The flickering campfire cast ghoulish shadows across the trunks of the surrounding trees."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for ghoulish

• Nearby Words

ghostwriter
ghostwriting
ghoul
ghoulish
ghoulishness
gi
giant

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the early 19th century from "ghoul" plus the English suffix "-ish"; "ghoul" entered English in 1786 via William Beckford's Gothic novel Vathek from Arabic ghūl, a desert-dwelling demon of folklore believed to rob graves and devour corpses.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ghoulish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ghoulish
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