macabre

American  

[muh-kah-bruh, -kahb, -kah-ber] / məˈkɑ brə, -ˈkɑb, -ˈkɑ bər /

Rarely macaber

adjective

1. gruesome and horrifying; ghastly; horrible.

2. of, pertaining to, dealing with, or representing death, especially its grimmer or uglier aspect.

3. of or suggestive of the allegorical dance of death.

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macabre British  

/ -brə, məˈkɑːbə /

adjective

1. gruesome; ghastly; grim

2. resembling or associated with the danse macabre

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Other Word Forms

• macabrely adverb

Etymology

Origin of macabre

First recorded in 1400–50; from French; compare late Middle English Macabrees daunce, from Middle French danse (de) Macabré, of uncertain origin; perhaps to be identified with Medieval Latin chorēa Machabaeōrum a representation of the deaths of Judas Maccabaeus and his brothers, but evidence is lacking; the French pronunciation with mute e is a misreading of the Middle French forms

Example Sentences

The days, which tick off ominously, will be filled with dread and macabre in-laws; it’s hard to say what’s worse.

From The Wall Street Journal

There was a kind of macabre joke in living as a reminder of historical atrocity.

From The Wall Street Journal

Maybe this duo hasn’t monetized their show quite yet, and if that’s the case, perhaps they could choose a time other than the witching hour to record their macabre podcast?

From Salon

Their surging popularity has sparked waves of concern over allegations of insider trading—and how speculators have hit it big on macabre wagers over war, death and crime.

From The Wall Street Journal

And not to sound macabre, but it also sets up a “waiting game” for the widow or widower to die.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• frightening
• ghastly
• ghoulish
• grim
• grisly
• gruesome
• lurid
• morbid
• spooky
• weird