English vocabulary · C1
Macabre
/məˈkɑːbrə/ · adj.
It means deeply connected to death and horror. It makes something feel dark, cold, and disturbing.
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Example sentences
- The museum had a macabre display.
- Her macabre stories scared the children.
Word origin and roots
from Old French
- macabre — dance of death (from Old French)
Synonyms and nuances
- GRUESOME (graphic details of harm are shown)
- GRISLY (the horror is physical and raw)
- GHASTLY (something is shocking and horrifying)
Lesson notes
Macabre. It means deeply connected to death and horror. It makes something feel dark, cold, and disturbing.
Similar words are gruesome, grisly, and ghastly. Use macabre when death feels very close.
The museum had a macabre display. Her macabre stories scared the children.
From Old French. Macabre means dance of death. Something dark and tied to death — that is macabre.