Ghastly

/ˈɡɑːs(t).li/ · adjective

Meaning

Like a ghost in appearance; death-like; pale; pallid; dismal..

Definitions by Sense

1. Like a ghost in appearance; death-like; pale; pallid; dismal.
2. Horrifyingly shocking.
3. (dated, colloquial) Extremely bad.
4. In a ghastly manner.

Example Sentences

Each turned his face with a ghastly pang.

His face was so ghastly that it could scarcely be recognized.

"My men grow mutinous day by day; / My men grow ghastly wan and weak." / The stout mate thought of home; a spray / Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek.

They gathered soberly in the farthest recess of the ward and gossiped about him in malicious, offended undertones, rebelling against his presence as a ghastly imposition and resenting him malevolently for the nauseating truth of which he was bright reminder.

Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail.

They burned the old gun that used to stand in the dark corner up in the garret, close to the stuffed fox that always grinned so fiercely. Perhaps the reason why he seemed in such a ghastly rage was that he did not come by his death fairly. Otherwise his pelt would not have been so perfect. And why else was he put away up there out of sight?—and so magnificent a brush as he had too.

The play was simply ghastly.

Well, Uncle, it's really been a ghastly mistake from the very beginning.

Synonyms for ghastly

Antonyms for ghastly

Related Words

Word Forms

• ghastlier
• ghastliest
• more ghastly
• most ghastly

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions