as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent
a macabre movie about animated corpses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of macabre
This traveling oddities festival features artists, vendors, performers, educators and guest speakers, all working to create a macabre and magical experience for attendees.
—
Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
But their weekly exchanges — the format finds each sharing mostly macabre stories, with a comedic slant that’s rare in the genre — would soon surpass 30 million monthly downloads.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Filling out this adorably macabre world are characters like the psychic Sally (Catherine O’Hara), the frightening Oogie Boogie (Ken Page), and Sandy Claws himself (Ed Ivory).
—Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Dec. 2025
The scene has the glint of macabre humor.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for macabre
Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
But their weekly exchanges — the format finds each sharing mostly macabre stories, with a comedic slant that’s rare in the genre — would soon surpass 30 million monthly downloads.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Filling out this adorably macabre world are characters like the psychic Sally (Catherine O’Hara), the frightening Oogie Boogie (Ken Page), and Sandy Claws himself (Ed Ivory).
—Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Dec. 2025
The scene has the glint of macabre humor.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for macabre
Recent Examples of Synonyms for macabre
Adjective
-
Getting cleared of a gruesome crime has boosted his social cache in his upper-class neighborhood of Westmont Village, a fictional New York suburb.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2026
-
And in another gruesome moment, there is a frightening shot of dozens of wedding guests covered in blood, with bodies strewn across a banquet hall.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The horrific shooting has rocked the Plainville community, with its reverberations being felt throughout the state.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
-
A lot of his struggles stemmed from the Raiders’ horrific offensive line.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Marin stuck to her plan of staying close until a moment that changed everything with shocking swiftness — her changing her mind and going for the green on the par-5 13th for a go-ahead birdie, and Talley adding to the sad history of collapses on the back nine at the home of the Masters.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Emma’s shocking admission rattles the entire wedding party, particularly Haim’s Rachel, whose cousin was left paralyzed by an act of gun violence.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Macabre.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/macabre. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
