macabre
gb/məkˈɑbɚ/ us/məkˈɑbɚ/
C1
English
morbid, a morbid
C1
1
morbid
C1
Usage pattern:
[a macabre + noun] / [something is macabre]
Police released a statement but avoided the most macabre details of the case.
A rendőrség közleményt adott ki, de kerülte az ügy legmorbidabb részleteit.
The film opens with a macabre scene in an abandoned hospital.
A film egy elhagyott kórházban játszódó morbid jelenettel kezdődik.
It was a macabre discovery that changed the direction of the investigation.
Learner examples
The news report described a macabre crime.
A híradás egy morbid bűncselekményt írt le.
I don’t like macabre stories.
Nem szeretem a morbid történeteket.
Common mistake:
Often misspelled as *macarbe* or confused with *morbid* (which can be less shocking and more simply related to death).
Meaning
disturbingly about death or violence
Collocations
macabre details
|a macabre scene
|a macabre discovery
|macabre images
|a macabre crime
|macabre evidence
|a macabre story
|macabre remains
|a macabre display
|a macabre atmosphere
Synonyms
gruesome (Emphasizes graphic or horrifying details.)
|
grisly (Common in news for shocking, unpleasant scenes.)
|
ghoulish (Suggests a morbid interest in death.)
|
morbid (Broader; can be simply death-related without being shocking.)
Antonyms
cheerful (Opposite in emotional tone; not grim or death-related.)
|
uplifting (Opposite in effect; inspires positive feelings rather than horror.)
Themes
crime
|media
|emotions
|arts
|death
Definition
Very unpleasant or scary because it is about death or violence.
Involving death, injury, or other grim subjects in a way that is shocking, disturbing, or gruesome.
C1
2
morbid
C1
Usage pattern:
[a macabre joke] / [a macabre sense of humor]
Her macabre jokes made some people uncomfortable, even though she meant no harm.
A morbid viccei miatt néhányan kellemetlenül érezték magukat, pedig nem akart rosszat.
The book balances suspense with a macabre kind of humor.
A könyv a feszültséget egyfajta morbid humorral ellensúlyozza.
He has a macabre sense of humor that shows up in his writing.
Learner examples
He told a macabre joke about death.
Mesélt egy morbid viccet a halálról.
Common mistake:
Not the same as *sarcastic*; macabre humor specifically involves death or grim subjects.
Meaning
darkly humorous about death
Collocations
macabre humor
|a macabre joke
|a macabre sense of humor
|macabre wit
|macabre comedy
|a macabre remark
|a macabre punchline
|macabre satire
Synonyms
dark (More general; may not specifically involve death.)
|
morbid (Can describe humor focused on death, often less intense than macabre.)
|
gallows (Used mainly in the phrase 'gallows humor' for joking in a grim situation.)
Antonyms
lighthearted (Opposite in tone; cheerful and not grim.)
|
wholesome (Opposite in subject matter; not dark or death-focused.)
Themes
humor
|emotions
|communication
|death
Definition
Funny in a dark way, often about death.
Using or showing dark humor, especially humor that treats death or other grim topics in an unsettling way.
NOUN
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LITERARY
3
a morbid
C2
Usage pattern:
the macabre
The exhibit explores the macabre in Victorian literature and photography.
A kiállítás a viktoriánus irodalom és fotográfia morbid témavilágát vizsgálja.
She has always had a fascination with the macabre.
Mindig is vonzódott a morbidhoz.
His paintings move from everyday scenes into the macabre.
Common mistake:
Usually used with 'the' (the macabre) when it means the topic in general.
Meaning
macabre things as a subject
Collocations
an interest in the macabre
|a taste for the macabre
|the macabre in art
|the macabre in literature
|a fascination with the macabre
Synonyms
morbidity (A general focus on death and unpleasant topics.)
|
gruesomeness (Emphasizes shockingly unpleasant details.)
Antonyms
the ordinary (Contrasts with an interest in grim, unusual subject matter.)
Themes
arts
|literature
|culture
Definition
Gruesome or death-related subjects, especially in art.
Macabre subjects or imagery, especially as a topic of interest in art, literature, film, or conversation (often used as 'the macabre').
Grammar
Dictionary form
macabre
IPA
GB/məkˈɑbɚ/
US/məkˈɑbɚ/
Syllables & stress
macabre (1 syllable)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: macabre
Word family
Advanced or less common
macabreness
noun
macabrely
adverb
Expressions
a macabre twist
1/ə məkˈɑbɚ twˈɪst/
fixed phrase
unexpected grim turn in story
A sudden change that becomes dark and death-related.
Examples
- The mystery has a clever plot, with a macabre twist at the end.
- What began as a prank took a macabre twist when someone got seriously hurt.
- The investigation took a macabre twist after the second body was found.
Learner examples
- The story ends with a macabre twist.
macabre details
1/məkˈɑbɚ dˈiteɪlz/
fixed phrase
shocking gruesome information
Very unpleasant details about death or violence.
Examples
- The reporter left out the most macabre details out of respect for the family.
- Court documents included macabre details of the attack.
- Online rumors spread macabre details that later turned out to be false.
Learner examples
- The article included macabre details.
macabre fascination
1/məkˈɑbɚ fˌæsənˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
strong interest in grim topics
A strong interest in scary, death-related things.
Examples
- He has a macabre fascination with famous unsolved murders.
- The podcast feeds a macabre fascination with disaster and crime.
- Her macabre fascination started after she began studying forensic science.
Learner examples
- She has a macabre fascination with true crime.
macabre humor
1/məkˈɑbɚ hjˈumɚ/
fixed phrase
dark comedy about death
Dark jokes, often about death.
Examples
- The show uses macabre humor to criticize the way society talks about tragedy.
- His novels are known for macabre humor and sudden violence.
- Some readers love the macabre humor; others find it upsetting.
Learner examples
- The movie has macabre humor.
macabre sense of humor
1/məkˈɑbɚ sˈɛns əv hjˈumɚ/
fixed phrase
dark jokes about death
Someone laughs at dark jokes about death.
Examples
- He has a macabre sense of humor, so he laughed when nobody else did.
- Her macabre sense of humor helped her cope with stressful work in the ER.
- I like dark comedy, but his macabre sense of humor goes too far for me.
Learner examples
- My friend has a macabre sense of humor.