Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Suggesting or resembling a ghoul; morbidly fascinated by death, disaster, or other unpleasant things: Characterized by an unnatural, disturbing, or revolting interest in death, suffering, or the macabre.
   • Gruesome; revolting: Having a quality that is horrifying or disgusting, often in connection with death.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The reporter was criticized for his ghoulish fascination with the details of the accident.
  • She has a ghoulish collection of horror movie memorabilia.
  • The children told ghoulish stories around the campfire.

Advanced Usage

• "Ghoulish delight": A perverse or morbid pleasure taken in someone else's misfortune or in something horrible.
  • He watched the political scandal unfold with a kind of ghoulish delight.
• "Ghoulish curiosity": An unhealthy or morbid interest in death or disaster.
  • The crowd's ghoulish curiosity was evident as they gathered at the scene.

Variants and Related Words

• Ghoul (n): An evil spirit or phantom, especially one supposed to rob graves and feed on dead bodies. Figuratively, a person morbidly interested in death or disaster.
  • In the story, a ghoul haunted the cemetery.
• Ghoulishly (adv): In a ghoulish manner.
  • He was ghoulishly obsessed with the crime scene photos.

Synonyms

• Morbid: Characterized by an abnormal and unhealthy interest in disturbing subjects, especially death.
• Macabre: Disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury.
• Gruesome: Causing repulsion or horror; grisly.
• Grisly: Causing horror or disgust.

Related Phrases

• To have a ghoulish streak: To have a tendency toward ghoulish interests or behavior.
  • Despite her cheerful demeanor, she has a ghoulish streak and loves true crime podcasts.

Adjective

1. suggesting the horror of death and decay
   • morbid details