as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent
a macabre movie about animated corpses
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of macabre
This coy, macabre novel recounts a trip to Venice taken by a middling English writer in the early twentieth century.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Henry & Oliver Bernsen The Bernsen brothers’ debut feature Bagworm (Sitges 2025) follows a string of genre shorts exploring the surreal and macabre sides of human experience.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 14 Nov. 2025
The original movie shocked audiences, and its low-budget aesthetic helped make the madness look even more grisly, macabre and real.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Many former asylums are now macabre tourist attractions, whose treatment of their subject matter can range from the sensitive to the sensationalist.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for macabre
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Henry & Oliver Bernsen The Bernsen brothers’ debut feature Bagworm (Sitges 2025) follows a string of genre shorts exploring the surreal and macabre sides of human experience.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 14 Nov. 2025
The original movie shocked audiences, and its low-budget aesthetic helped make the madness look even more grisly, macabre and real.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Many former asylums are now macabre tourist attractions, whose treatment of their subject matter can range from the sensitive to the sensationalist.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for macabre
Recent Examples of Synonyms for macabre
Adjective
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This story is set in a gruesome, violent, vile world.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
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Throughout the last two days, Ivey centered himself in faith and gratitude — two grounding principles for a player whose career was derailed in January 2025 by a gruesome leg injury.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Hall said his mother’s final moments replay on a horrific loop in his head.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
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Jacquelyn’s attorney, Andrew Nebenzahl, said the company has ignored horrific crashes and entrapments.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman entered the city’s crowded mayoral race on Saturday, marking a shocking and last-minute move to challenge longtime ally Mayor Karen Bass after previously endorsing the mayor.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Feb. 2026
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What began with the unconstitutional targeting of law firms, universities, and non-partisan civil servants has advanced to ICE’s shocking and deadly street-level assaults.—
Chris Mattei,
Hartford Courant,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Macabre.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/macabre. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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