# morbid

/ˈmɔɹbəd/ (US) · /mˈɔːbɪd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. interest in death

adjective · CEFR B2

having or showing an unhealthy interest in unpleasant things, especially death.

For teachers: characterized by an abnormal or unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, particularly death and decay.

- He has a morbid fascination with true crime stories and old cemeteries.
- The public's morbid curiosity regarding the details of the accident was reflected in the sensationalist headlines of the morning tabloids.

### 2. gruesome or dark

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

suggesting the horror of death; dark and unpleasant.

For teachers: suggesting the physical or psychological horror of death; grisly or gruesome in nature.

- The artist's later paintings were filled with morbid images of skeletons.
- The novel was criticized for its morbid atmosphere, which many readers found unnecessarily depressing and graphic.

### 3. medical/disease

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

relating to or caused by a disease.

For teachers: relating to, affected by, or characteristic of disease; used in technical contexts to describe pathological states.

- The doctor examined the morbid growth to see if it was dangerous.
- The researcher studied the morbid anatomy of the lungs to understand how the virus caused such extensive damage.

Usage: In modern medicine, this is often found in the term 'morbid obesity', referring to a specific medical classification of weight.

## Examples

- He has a morbid interest in true crime stories.
- The old house had a morbid atmosphere that made the visitors feel uneasy about its history.
- While some found the exhibition on Victorian funeral rites educational, others were put off by what they perceived as a morbid obsession with the physical reality of the grave.

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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.