# ghastly

/ˈɡæstɫi/ (US) · /ɡˈɑːstli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ghastly
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. pale and ill

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

looking very pale, white, and unhealthy, like a ghost.

For teachers: resembling a ghost in appearance; deathly pale or pallid.

- He looked ghastly after the long flight and clearly needed to sleep.
- The patient's face had a ghastly hue that concerned the nursing staff, prompting an immediate review of his vitals.

### 3. very bad or unpleasant

adjective · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

extremely bad, unpleasant, or annoying.

For teachers: extremely unwell or disagreeable; often used as a strong intensifier for negative experiences.

- The weather during our holiday was absolutely ghastly.
- She found the decor in the hotel lobby to be quite ghastly, noting that the clashing colours were a strain on the eyes.

Teaching tip: In British English, this is often used to exaggerate how much you dislike something, similar to 'dreadful'.

### 4. in a horrible way

adverb · CEFR C2 · Literary

in a way that is shocking or very pale.

For teachers: in a manner that is terrifying, shocking, or death-like.

- The white makeup made his face look ghastly pale under the stage lights.
- The moon shone ghastly through the mist, illuminating the ruins in a way that made the hikers feel uneasy.

Usage: Usually modifies adjectives related to appearance or light.

## Examples

- The weather today is absolutely ghastly.
- She woke up feeling ghastly after only three hours of sleep and a long flight.
- The witnesses provided a ghastly account of the accident, detailing the wreckage in a way that left the courtroom in stunned silence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.