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macabre

Adjective

IPA /məˈkɑːbrə/

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Meaning in plain English

Disturbing or strange because it involves death or frightening subjects.

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Pronunciation

macabre/məˈkɑːbrə/

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A story centres on death and horror
Its imagery unsettles the reader

Macabre stories or images are disturbing because they involve death or horror.

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The museum displayed illustrations from a macabre ghost story.
The literature class discussed the poem's macabre imagery.

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The museum displayed illustrations from a ________ ghost story.

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macabre — Disturbing or strange because it involves death or frightening subjects.

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Disturbing or strange because it involves death or frightening subjects.

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Word origin

From French macabre, associated with the expression danse macabre, meaning dance of death.

Did you know?

Macabre tale, macabre humour and macabre imagery describe unsettling material.

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