Ghastly Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐ป
ghastly
[หษกรฆs.tli ]
Definitions
appearance
causing great horror or fear; frightful or macabre.
Synonyms
dreadful, horrible, horrifying, terrifying.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| ghastly |
Used to describe something shockingly frightful or dreadful, often related to appearance or atmosphere. It has a more extreme and graphic connotation.
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| horrible |
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.
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| terrifying |
Used to describe something that causes intense fear. Often used for situations or experiences that are extremely frightful.
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| dreadful |
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'.
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| horrifying |
Used when describing something that causes severe fear or shock, often involving violence or tragic events.
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Examples of usage
- The ghastly sight of the abandoned haunted house sent shivers down my spine.
- She had a ghastly appearance with her pale skin and sunken eyes.
in a horrible manner; terribly.
Synonyms
awfully, dreadfully, horribly, terribly.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| ghastly |
Use 'ghastly' to describe something that is shocking, unpleasant, or extremely bad, often related to the appearance of something.
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| horribly |
Use 'horribly' to describe something that is done in a very bad or unpleasant way, often evoking strong negative emotions or disgust.
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| terribly |
Use 'terribly' to mean 'very' in a negative context or to add emphasis to something that is bad or unfortunate.
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| dreadfully |
Use 'dreadfully' to describe something that is extremely bad, unpleasant, or causes fear and anxiety.
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| awfully |
Use 'awfully' as an intensifier to mean 'very' in a negative sense or to emphasize something bad.
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Examples of usage
- The news of the accident spread ghastly quickly through the small town.
- She was injured ghastly in the car crash.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Literature
- 'Ghastly' often appears in Gothic literature, which portrays dark and eerie settings, enhancing feelings of fear.
- Famous authors like Edgar Allan Poe used 'ghastly' to create atmospheric tension in their horror stories.
- In Shakespeareโs works, characters use similar terms to describe frightful scenes, showing the word's longstanding impact on writing.
Pop Culture
- In modern horror films, the term 'ghastly' is used to describe particularly shocking scenes or unsettling characters.
- The phrase 'ghastly appearance' is often used in media to enhance character descriptions, emphasizing fear and dread.
- Video games in the horror genre use 'ghastly' to create environments or monsters that evoke a sense of horror.
Psychology
- People often experience the feeling of horror when confronted with 'ghastly' images, triggering a fight-or-flight response.
- Fear of the 'ghastly' or horrifying reflects deep-seated instincts related to survival and self-protection.
- The reaction to something 'ghastly' can lead to psychological studies on human responses to terror and disgust.
Art
- Artists in the Romantic era explored 'ghastly' themes, depicting dark subjects to evoke emotions in viewers.
- Paintings featuring ghostly figures or unsettling landscapes are often characterized as having a 'ghastly' quality.
- The use of dark colors and shadows in art often creates a 'ghastly' atmosphere, inviting viewers to feel unease.
Origin of 'ghastly'
Main points about word origin
- The word 'ghastly' comes from the Old English word 'gวฃst,' meaning spirit or ghost.
- It evolved in the 14th century, originally referring to something that causes fear or horror.
- By the 19th century, it began to describe anything terribly bad or frightening.
The word 'ghastly' originated from Middle English 'gastly' which meant 'frightening, terrifying'. It is derived from the Old English 'gast' meaning 'a ghost'. Over time, the word evolved to its current usage to describe something that causes great horror or fear.