adj
ghastly
GAHS-lee
Ghastly (adj) means Extremely unpleasant, shocking, or horrifying. Example: “The crash scene was truly ghastly.”
adj
1
Extremely unpleasant, shocking, or horrifying.
"The crash scene was truly ghastly."
"She described the ghastly conditions in the flooded village."
2
Pale and deathly-looking.
"His face turned a ghastly shade of grey."
3
(informal, especially British) Very bad or unpleasant, used for milder complaints as well as serious horror.
"What a ghastly hotel — the room smelled awful."
How to use ghastly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHorrifying or deathly-looking, though British speakers also use it loosely for anything simply awful.
Common pairings
ghastly sight
ghastly mistake
look ghastly
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Word forms
- Comparative
- ghastlier, more ghastly
- Superlative
- ghastliest, most ghastly
Fill the gap
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The crash scene was truly _____.
Etymology
From Middle English gastly, related to "ghost" and originally meaning "terrifying" or "deathly pale" — the gh spelling crept in later by association with "ghost."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for ghastly
See all rhymes for ghastly →Frequently asked questions
What does “ghastly” mean?
The word “ghastly” means extremely unpleasant, shocking, or horrifying. In plain terms, horrifying or deathly-looking, though British speakers also use it loosely for anything simply awful.
How do you pronounce “ghastly”?
“Ghastly” is pronounced GAHS-lee (/ˈɡæs(t).li/ in IPA).
How do you use “ghastly” in a sentence?
Here is “ghastly” used in a sentence: “The crash scene was truly ghastly.”
What part of speech is “ghastly”?
“Ghastly” is an adjective.
Where does the word “ghastly” come from?
The word “ghastly” comes from Middle English. From Middle English gastly, related to "ghost" and originally meaning "terrifying" or "deathly pale" — the gh spelling crept in later by association with "ghost.".
How many meanings does “ghastly” have?
“Ghastly” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely unpleasant, shocking, or horrifying.
