Macabre: meaning, definitions and examples

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macabre

 

[ mษ™หˆkษ‘หbrษ™ ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

art

Disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury.

Synonyms

eerie, ghastly, gruesome, morbid.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
macabre

Use this word when describing something that involves death or the supernatural and is intended to be disturbing or horrifying.

  • The haunted house had a macabre feeling, with skeletons and eerie sounds
gruesome

This word is appropriate for describing something causing repulsion or horror, often due to its explicit and graphic nature.

  • The details of the accident were so gruesome that they were hard to listen to
ghastly

It is used to describe something shockingly frightful or dreadful, often related to a horrifying experience or appearance.

  • The crime scene was ghastly, leaving the detectives shaken and nauseous
morbid

This word is suitable when describing an unhealthy interest in disturbing subjects, especially death and disease. It can carry a negative connotation about someoneโ€™s mental state.

  • His morbid fascination with crime scenes worried his friends
eerie

This word is best used when describing something strange or mysterious that induces worry or fear due to its unpredictability or inexplicability.

  • As I walked through the abandoned mansion, the silence was eerie and disconcerting

Examples of usage

  • The painting had a macabre beauty to it.
  • The movie was filled with macabre scenes of violence and death.
Context #2 | Noun

literature

A style in art and literature that emphasizes the grotesque, mysterious, and the dark aspects of human nature.

Synonyms

chilling, grim, sinister, spooky.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
macabre

Macabre is used to describe things that are gruesome and horrifying, often related to death or the supernatural.

  • The old house had a macabre history filled with mysterious deaths
grim

Grim is often used to describe something that is very serious, dark, and without any hope. This can be in both literal and figurative contexts.

  • The news from the battlefield was grim, and the soldiers prepared for the worst
sinister

Sinister describes something that seems evil or harmful, suggesting that something bad will happen.

  • There was a sinister figure lurking in the shadows, watching their every move
spooky

Spooky is used in a more casual or light-hearted sense to describe something that is eerie or unsettling, often related to ghosts or Halloween.

  • The kids loved telling spooky stories around the campfire
chilling

Chilling refers to something that causes a feeling of fear or worry, often in a subtle or unexpected way.

  • The chilling silence in the abandoned building made their skin crawl

Examples of usage

  • The writer was known for his macabre tales of horror and suspense.
  • The play had a macabre atmosphere that kept the audience on edge.

Translations

Translations of the word "macabre" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น macabro

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคญเคฏเคพเคจเค•

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช makaber

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ menggerikan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะผะพั‚ะพั€ะพัˆะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ makabryczny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ไธๆฐ—ๅ‘ณใช

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท macabre

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ macabro

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท รผrkรผtรผcรผ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์œผ์Šค์Šคํ•œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุฑูˆุน

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ dฤ›sivรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ straลกidelnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆๆ€–็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ grozljiv

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ hryllilegur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ะพั€า›ั‹ะฝั‹ัˆั‚ั‹

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒจแƒ˜แƒจแƒ˜แƒก แƒ›แƒแƒ›แƒ’แƒ•แƒ แƒ”แƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ qorxulu

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ macabro

Etymology

The word 'macabre' originated from the French word 'macabre', which means 'dance of death'. The term became popular during the Middle Ages to describe a genre of art that focused on the themes of death and mortality. The macabre style often depicted skeletons, graves, and other symbols of death. Over time, the word evolved to also describe a disturbing and unsettling quality in art, literature, and other forms of expression.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,102, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.