Ghastly: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe something shockingly frightful or dreadful, often related to appearance or atmosphere. It has a more extreme and graphic connotation.

• The scene of the accident was absolutely ghastly.
• She wore a ghastly costume for Halloween.

Generally signifies something very unpleasant or bad and can be used in a wide range of contexts, from situations to experiences to descriptions of actions.

• He made a horrible mistake.
• The weather today is just horrible.

Used to describe something that causes intense fear. Often used for situations or experiences that are extremely frightful.

• The rollercoaster ride was absolutely terrifying.
• The idea of public speaking is terrifying to him.

Used to describe something very bad or unpleasant. This can refer to situations, outcomes, or feelings. Often used in a less extreme context than 'ghastly'.

• I've had a dreadful day.
• The food at the restaurant was dreadful.

Used when describing something that causes severe fear or shock, often involving violence or tragic events.

• The movie was filled with horrifying scenes.
• The news of the attack was horrifying.

Use 'ghastly' to describe something that is shocking, unpleasant, or extremely bad, often related to the appearance of something.

• The scene of the accident was absolutely ghastly.
• She wore a ghastly dress that looked awful on her.

Use 'horribly' to describe something that is done in a very bad or unpleasant way, often evoking strong negative emotions or disgust.

• She felt horribly ill after eating the spoiled food.
• The movie was horribly boring.

Use 'terribly' to mean 'very' in a negative context or to add emphasis to something that is bad or unfortunate.

• She was terribly upset about losing her job.
• The plan went terribly wrong.

Use 'dreadfully' to describe something that is extremely bad, unpleasant, or causes fear and anxiety.

• He made a dreadfully embarrassing mistake during the meeting.
• The food at the restaurant was dreadfully bland.

Use 'awfully' as an intensifier to mean 'very' in a negative sense or to emphasize something bad.

• She felt awfully tired after the long journey.
• The weather was awfully cold last night.