ghastly
shockingly frightful or dreadful; horrible: a ghastly murder.
resembling a ghost, especially in being very pale: a ghastly look to his face.
terrible; very bad: a ghastly error.
Also ghast·li·ly [gast-li-lee], /ˈgæst lɪ li/, ghast·i·ly [gast-i-lee] /ˈgæst ɪ li/ . in a ghastly manner; horribly; terribly.
with a deathlike quality.
Origin of ghastly
1Other words for ghastly
Other words from ghastly
- ghast·li·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use ghastly in a sentence
No longer were we onlookers but part proprietors in the grimmest, ghastliest proceeding that ever was since conscious time began.
The Glory of The Coming | Irvin S. CobbDeath stalked in ghastliest form across my pages: and villainy reigned triumphant till the Nemesis of the last chapter.
My First Book: | VariousThis pretence, much favoured by the lady visitors, led to the ghastliest absurdities.
Dickens As an Educator | James L. (James Laughlin) HughesDestitution, in its ghastliest and most bitter meaning, was alone his recompense and portion.
Folle-Farine | OuidaThe ghastliest attempts at liveliness surround us on every side.
The Night Side of London | J. Ewing Ritchie
British Dictionary definitions for ghastly
/ (ˈɡɑːstlɪ) /
informal very bad or unpleasant
deathly pale; wan
informal extremely unwell; ill: they felt ghastly after the party
terrifying; horrible
unhealthily; sickly: ghastly pale
archaic in a horrible or hideous manner
Origin of ghastly
1Derived forms of ghastly
- ghastliness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse