adjective

ghoulish

GOO-lihsh

Ghoulish (adjective) means showing a morbid delight in death, gore, or suffering. Example: “The tabloid ran a ghoulish photo of the crash scene.”

adjective

Showing a morbid delight in death, gore, or suffering.

"The tabloid ran a ghoulish photo of the crash scene."

"His ghoulish sense of humor unsettled the whole office."

How to use ghoulish

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCreepily fascinated with death, gore, or macabre things.

Common pairings

ghoulish grin ghoulish delight ghoulish fascination

Word forms

more ghoulish comparative, most ghoulish superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The tabloid ran a _____ photo of the crash scene.

Etymology

From ghoul plus the adjective suffix -ish.

Frequently asked questions

What does “ghoulish” mean?

The word “ghoulish” means showing a morbid delight in death, gore, or suffering. In plain terms, creepily fascinated with death, gore, or macabre things.

How do you pronounce “ghoulish”?

“Ghoulish” is pronounced GOO-lihsh (/ˈɡuː.lɪʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “ghoulish” in a sentence?

Here is “ghoulish” used in a sentence: “The tabloid ran a ghoulish photo of the crash scene.”

What part of speech is “ghoulish”?

“Ghoulish” is an adjective.