Ghastliest

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. The most extreme instance of something that inspires terror or revulsion
2. Exhibiting the highest degree of horror or shock through gruesome or frightful qualities
3. Representing the peak level of dreadful or terrifying characteristics causing strong fear or disgust

Etymology: "Ghastliest" is the superlative of "ghastly," and the adjective's original sense had nothing to do with gore. Its ancestor is Old English "gǣstan," meaning "to torment" or "to frighten," and the Middle English "gastly" meant something closer to "frightening" or "terrifying" in a general way. Its neighbour "ghostly" was also spelt "gastlich" in Middle English, so the two words overlapped in both spelling and meaning, and "ghastly" grew out of that blend of "gastly" and "ghostly." The modern "gh" spelling is a later accident. It arose in the 16th century, when writers began spelling the word with "gh" to reflect its link to "ghost," even though the two words came from different roots. That spelling stuck, so the familiar form carries a visual hint of spirits that its origin does not fully support. Over time, "ghastly" moved from a sense of being haunted or frightened toward describing things that are shocking to look at. Its superlative "ghastliest" therefore names the most extreme version of that shock, most often applied to sights, sounds, or events that seem appalling.

Synonyms: horrific, terrifying, frightful, dreadful, appalling

Antonyms: pleasant, delightful, charming, lovely, beautiful