macabre

adjective

ma·ca·bre | \ mə-ˈkäb

, -bər, -ˈkäbrᵊ\

Definition of macabre

1 : having death as a subject : comprising or including a personalized representation of death The macabre dance included a procession of skeletons.

2 : dwelling on the gruesome a macabre presentation of a tragic story

3 : tending to produce horror in a beholder this macabre procession of starving peasants

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Where does the word macabre come from? More Example Sentences Learn More about macabre

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Choose the Right Synonym for macabre

ghastly, grisly, gruesome, macabre, lurid mean horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect. ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts. a ghastly accident grisly and gruesome suggest additionally the results of extreme violence or cruelty. an unusually grisly murder suffered a gruesome death macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death. a macabre tale of premature burial lurid adds to gruesome the suggestion of shuddering fascination with violent death and especially with murder. the lurid details of a crime

Where does the word macabre come from?

We trace the origins of macabre to the name of the Book of Maccabees which is included in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox canons of the Old Testament and in the Protestant Apocrypha. Sections of this biblical text address both the deaths of faithful people asked to renounce their religion and the manner in which the dead should be properly commemorated. The latter includes a discussion of praying for the souls of the dead, which was important in the development of the notion of purgatory and a happy afterlife for those persecuted for their religion. In medieval France, representations of these passages were performed as a procession or dance which became known as the “dance of death” or “dance Maccabee,” which was spelled in several different ways, including danse macabre.

In English, macabre was originally used in reference to this “dance of death” and then gradually became used more broadly, referring to anything grim or gruesome. It has come to be used as a synonym of horrible or distressing, always with a connection to the physical aspects of death and suffering.

Examples of macabre in a Sentence

a macabre story of murder and madness Police discovered a macabre scene inside the house.

Recent Examples on the Web

For some, this fascination begets triaphilia, the belief that certain events — often unfortunate or macabre — occur in threes. — Nick Moyle, ExpressNews.com, "Texas’ Jordan Whittington last RB standing as injuries mount," 23 Aug. 2019 The Haunted Mansion is far from just a simple celebration of the macabre. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, "At Haunted Mansion 50th anniversary bash, Disneyland stays weird," 9 Aug. 2019 Ruby’s macabre, profane, manipulative, racist mother-in-law is a major insider with the criminal gang that the women are battling. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "“The Kitchen,” Reviewed: An Engrossing Mob-Wife Drama That’s Relegated to a Table Read," 8 Aug. 2019 Most of them are there to satisfy curiosity or a macabre, but harmless, interest in the school. — Susan Scutti, CNN, "Columbine High School plans to enhance security, not rebuild, to address unauthorized visitor problem," 25 July 2019 There was always this fascination with the macabre. — Rob Haskell, Vogue, "Ariana Grande on Grief and Growing Up," 9 July 2019 Most of them are there to satisfy curiosity or a macabre, but harmless, interest in the school. — Krista Kafer, The Denver Post, "Kafer: Don’t raze Columbine High School; hold trespassers accountable," 20 June 2019 Most of them are there to satisfy curiosity or a macabre, but harmless, interest in the school. — Susan Scutti, CNN, "Columbine High School plans to enhance security, not rebuild, to address unauthorized visitor problem," 25 July 2019 Most of them are there to satisfy curiosity or a macabre, but harmless, interest in the school. — Krista Kafer, The Denver Post, "Kafer: Don’t raze Columbine High School; hold trespassers accountable," 20 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'macabre.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for macabre

macabre

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of macabre

: involving death or violence in a way that is strange, frightening, or unpleasant

See the full definition for macabre in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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macabre

Definition of macabre

Synonyms for macabre

Choose the Right Synonym for macabre

Where does the word macabre come from?

Examples of macabre in a Sentence

First Known Use of macabre

History and Etymology for macabre

English Language Learners Definition of macabre

macabre

Definition of macabre

Synonyms for macabre

Choose the Right Synonym for macabre

Where does the word macabre come from?

Examples of macabre in a Sentence

First Known Use of macabre

History and Etymology for macabre

English Language Learners Definition of macabre

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