morbid

[mawr-bid]

adjective

1. suggesting an unhealthy mental state or attitude; unwholesomely gloomy, sensitive, extreme, etc..

   a morbid interest in death.

   Antonyms: cheerful

2. affected by, caused by, causing, or characteristic of disease.

   Synonyms: sickly, sick, unhealthy, unhealthy, diseased, unwholesome
   Antonyms: healthy

3. pertaining to diseased parts.

   morbid anatomy.

4. gruesome; grisly.

morbid

/ ˈmɔːbɪd /

adjective

1. having an unusual interest in death or unpleasant events

2. gruesome

3. relating to or characterized by disease; pathologic

   a morbid growth

Other Word Forms

• morbidly adverb
• morbidness noun
• premorbid adjective
• premorbidly adverb
• premorbidness noun
• unmorbid adjective
• unmorbidly adverb
• unmorbidness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of morbid¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin morbidus “sickly,” from morb(us) “disease, sickness” + -idus -id ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of morbid¹

C17: from Latin morbidus sickly, from morbus illness

Example Sentences

Within this space between, Gramsci argued, “morbid phenomena of the most varied kind come to pass.”

From Salon

But her best-known role is Wednesday Addams, a character known for her sharp wit, deadpan delivery and fascination with all things morbid.

From BBC

People compare the odor to dead rats, gym socks and rotten eggs — hence the morbid name.

From Los Angeles Times

When I asked the state Department of Toxic Substances Control about this, it had a shockingly morbid answer.

From Los Angeles Times

But O’Connor has a lovely gentleness about him, even when, in a morbid touch, cinematographer Jeremy Benning has him spy on the beauty through the crosshairs of his gun scope.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ghastly 
• ghoulish 
• grim 
• gruesome 
• macabre 
• melancholy 
• pessimistic 
• unnatural