Ghoulish
/ˈɡuːlɪʃ/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Ghoulish means looking or acting like a ghoul, which is a creature from stories that eats dead bodies or haunts graveyards. It describes things or people that seem strange, scary, or unpleasant because they remind us of death or bad things. It can also mean being too interested in things that are shocking or unpleasant.
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See It in Action
Related to or like a ghoul; connected to death or horror in a strange or unpleasant way
- •The old house had a ghoulish atmosphere that made everyone nervous.
- •He had a ghoulish smile after telling the scary story.
- •The movie showed ghoulish creatures rising from the grave.
Showing too much interest in unpleasant or shocking things, especially about death
- •Some reporters have a ghoulish fascination with crime scenes.
- •She made ghoulish jokes about the accident that made others uncomfortable.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "ghoulish" like "scary" (A1 word), but more about death and creepy, strange things, not just any fear
- ✓Picture a dark graveyard at night with shadows moving and cold wind—this feeling is ghoulish
- ✓It’s the feeling you get watching a horror movie with ghosts or monsters that are creepy and strange
- ✓Sounds like "ghoul-ish" → Imagine a ghostly figure called a "ghoul" that looks scary and likes spooky places
- ✓In stories, ghouls are monsters that live in graveyards and eat dead bodies—ghoulish things remind you of this
- ✓NOT like "ghostly" (which means like a ghost, often quiet and soft), ghoulish is more about ugly or shocking death things
- ✓NOT like "creepy" (which can be about anything strange), ghoulish is more about death, horror, and unpleasantness related to dead things
Try Other Words
- •Macabre: related to death and horror (Use when describing something very dark and related to death in a serious way)
- •Creepy: strange and causing fear or unease (Use when something is strange or makes you uncomfortable but not always about death)
- •Morbid: having an interest in unpleasant subjects like death (Use when focusing on unhealthy or strange interest in death or illness)
- •Spooky: causing a feeling of fear or unease, often in a fun or light way (Use for less serious, more playful scary situations)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "ghoul" (a monster that eats dead bodies) + suffix "-ish" (meaning "like" or "related to")
- •Etymology: From Arabic "ghul," a mythical evil creature; entered English in the 18th century referring to graveyard monsters
- •Historical development: Originally meant the monster itself; later used to describe anything strange or unpleasant like a ghoul
- •Modern usage: Used to describe things, people, or actions that remind us of death, horror, or strange and unpleasant fascination with such topics
Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of stories or movies do you think have a ghoulish mood, and why do people like or dislike them?
•Can someone be called ghoulish for their behavior, and how does that change the meaning compared to describing a place or object?
Fill in the blanks
1.The old abandoned house had a ___ atmosphere that made visitors feel uneasy and scared.
2.Journalists with a ___ interest in crime scenes sometimes upset families by asking too many questions.
3.Unlike a friendly ghost story, a ___ tale focuses on death and things that are unpleasant to think about.
4.He smiled with a ___ grin after telling the horror story, making everyone feel uncomfortable.
5.The movie’s ___ creatures came out of the grave, creating a very scary scene.
6.When someone is described as ___, it often means they like to talk about or watch things that others find disturbing or unpleasant.
7.A ___ mood is different from just being scary because it often involves death or strange, ugly things.