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Meaning & use

morbid

adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˈmɔːbɪd/
US/ˈmɔːrbɪd/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparabledisapproving

    Having or showing an unhealthy interest in death, illness or other upsetting things.

    Grammar: Describes people, thoughts or curiosity: a morbid fascination.

    Patterns

    • morbid curiosity
    • morbid thoughts

    He has a morbid fascination with graveyards.

    Don't be so morbid; nothing is going to happen.

    She read the crime reports out of morbid curiosity.

  2. adjectivebefore a nounmedicaltechnical

    Relating to disease, or caused by it; used in medical contexts.

    Grammar: Comes before a noun in medical writing: morbid obesity.

    Patterns

    • morbid condition

    The doctor diagnosed morbid obesity.

    The tissue showed a morbid change under the microscope.

    Researchers studied morbid conditions in older adults.

Word forms

comparativemore morbid
superlativemost morbid

Common combinations

morbid curiosity
Crowds gathered at the crash out of morbid curiosity.
morbid fear
He has a morbid fear of hospitals.
morbid sense of humor
Her morbid sense of humor surprised the guests.
morbid thoughts
Late at night, morbid thoughts kept him awake.
morbid obesity
The clinic treats patients with morbid obesity.

Synonyms and how they differ

gloomy
Gloomy means sad or dark in mood, but morbid specifically points to death and disease.
macabre
Macabre describes things that are grim and linked to death in a chilling way, often in art or stories.
ghoulish
Ghoulish suggests enjoying others' suffering, which is harsher than morbid.
unhealthy
Unhealthy is a mild word, whereas morbid describes an interest that seems disturbing.

Opposites

cheerfulwholesomehealthy

Word family

morbidity noun
the rate of disease, or a morbid state
morbidly adverb
in a disturbing way
morbidness noun
the quality of being morbid
mortality noun
the state of being subject to death, or death rate

Commonly confused: morbid or moribund? morbid or mordant?

morbid vs moribund

Moribund means near death or failing, while morbid means related to death or disease.

morbid vs mordant

Mordant means biting and sharply sarcastic, as in humor, not concerned with death.

Practice

Which word best describes a person who keeps asking about gruesome details of accidents?

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