# macabre

/məˈkɑbɝ/ (US) · /məkˈɑːbɹɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. focused on death

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

describes something that is dark and focused on death or the gruesome, often in a shocking way.

For teachers: disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury.

- The old house had a macabre history that local people still talked about.
- The museum's collection included several macabre artifacts from the plague years, designed to remind viewers of their own mortality.

Usage: Often used to describe art, stories, or a person's sense of humour.

Teaching tip: While it means 'scary', it specifically implies a fascination with the physical reality of death; it is more sophisticated than 'creepy'.

## Examples

- The old house had a macabre atmosphere.
- The artist is famous for his macabre paintings that depict twisted, skeletal figures in dark forests.
- The novel's opening chapter is a masterclass in macabre storytelling, using vivid descriptions of decaying mansions and ghostly whispers to establish a sense of impending doom.

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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.