noun
ghoul
gool
Ghoul (noun) means a legendary demon or evil spirit said to rob graves and feed on corpses. Example: “In the old folktale, a ghoul haunted the cemetery at night.”
noun
1
A legendary demon or evil spirit said to rob graves and feed on corpses.
"The other chamber had shown a pack of ghouls and witches over-running the world of our forefathers, but this one brought the horror right into our own daily life!."
— H.P. Lovecraft, Pickman's Model (1927)
"From my laboratory in the Castle east To the master bedroom, where the vampires feast The ghouls all came from their humble abodes To get a jolt from my electrodes They did the Mash They did the Monster Mash."
— , Monster Mash (1962)
"In the old folktale, a ghoul haunted the cemetery at night."
2
A person with a morbid, unhealthy fascination with death or gruesome things.
"Only a ghoul would slow down just to gawk at the crash."
How to use ghoul
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a corpse-eating demon from folklore, or (more commonly today) someone who takes an unhealthy interest in death, gore, or other people's misfortune.
Common pairings
a ghoulish ghoul reference
act like a ghoul
gawking ghouls
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Word forms
- Plural
- ghouls
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In the old folktale, a _____ haunted the cemetery at night.
Etymology
From French goule, borrowed from Persian/Arabic ghul, a legendary desert demon that preyed on travelers and the dead.
Synonyms
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graverobber
body snatcher
Related words
Rhymes for ghoul
See all rhymes for ghoul →Frequently asked questions
What does “ghoul” mean?
The word “ghoul” means a legendary demon or evil spirit said to rob graves and feed on corpses. In plain terms, either a corpse-eating demon from folklore, or (more commonly today) someone who takes an unhealthy interest in death, gore, or other people's misfortune.
How do you pronounce “ghoul”?
“Ghoul” is pronounced gool (/ɡuːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “ghoul” in a sentence?
Here is “ghoul” used in a sentence: “In the old folktale, a ghoul haunted the cemetery at night.”
What part of speech is “ghoul”?
“Ghoul” is a noun.
Where does the word “ghoul” come from?
The word “ghoul” comes from French. From French goule, borrowed from Persian/Arabic ghul, a legendary desert demon that preyed on travelers and the dead.
How many meanings does “ghoul” have?
“Ghoul” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a legendary demon or evil spirit said to rob graves and feed on corpses.
