ghastly crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome! If you're tackling the "ghastly" crossword clue, you've come to the right place. Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of possible answers, sorted by letter count, complete with clear explanations to help you complete your puzzle with ease.
Solutions for "ghastly crossword clue" by Letter Count
6 Letters
PALLID: Describing someone or something with an unhealthy pale complexion, often implying a ghastly or sickly appearance.
7 Letters
HAGGARD: Looking exhausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry, or suffering; appearing gaunt and ghastly.
8 Letters
HORRIBLE: Causing or likely to cause horror; dreadful; extremely unpleasant or bad, directly aligning with 'ghastly'.
TERRIBLE: Extremely bad or serious; causing great fear, dread, or dismay; awful, a strong synonym for ghastly.
DREADFUL: Causing or involving great suffering, fear, or unhappiness; extremely bad or serious; appalling, often interchangeable with ghastly.
GRUESOME: Causing repulsion or horror; grisly; macabre, used to describe something frighteningly unpleasant, like a ghastly scene.
More About "ghastly crossword clue"
The word "ghastly" evokes strong imagery, often associated with something truly horrifying, dreadful, or even deathly pale. In crosswords, it's a popular clue because it has several synonyms that fit various letter counts. Understanding the nuances of these synonyms is key to selecting the correct answer. For instance, while 'horrible' might describe a sound, 'pallid' specifically refers to appearance.
When you encounter "ghastly" as a clue, consider the context of the puzzle, if available. Is it part of a macabre theme? Or is it a straightforward adjective? The solutions provided here cover the most common interpretations, from the frighteningly unpleasant to the eerily pale. Always cross-reference with intersecting letters to confirm your choice and ensure it fits seamlessly into the grid.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Count Letters Carefully: Always start by counting the available spaces in the grid. This immediately narrows down the possibilities for words like "ghastly" which have multiple synonyms.
- Consider Synonyms and Antonyms: Think about the core meaning of "ghastly" and brainstorm related words. Also, sometimes clues are antonyms, though less likely for "ghastly" itself, it's a general good practice.
- Check for Context Clues: Sometimes a longer clue will offer additional hints. For example, "ghastly complexion" would strongly point to 'PALLID', while "ghastly sight" could suggest 'HORRIBLE' or 'GRUESOME'.
- Use Intersecting Letters: Don't guess. If you have any letters from intersecting words, use them to confirm or deny your potential answers. This is the most reliable way to ensure accuracy.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'ghastly' mean in a crossword context?
In crosswords, 'ghastly' typically points to synonyms related to being frightening, horrifying, very unpleasant, or extremely pale/unhealthy in appearance. Common answers might include dreadful, horrible, terrible, gruesome, or pallid.
How can I find the correct synonym for 'ghastly' when multiple options fit?
The best approach is to use the letter count provided in the puzzle. If 'ghastly' is an 8-letter clue, you'd look for words like HORRIBLE, TERRIBLE, or DREADFUL. If it's 6 letters, PALLID might be the answer. Additionally, look for intersecting letters from other solved clues to confirm your choice.
Are there any common crossword tricks associated with 'ghastly'?
Sometimes, clues like 'ghastly' can be part of a pun or a play on words, though this is less common for straightforward descriptive adjectives. More often, the trick lies in identifying the exact shade of meaning required, e.g., 'ghastly pale' specifically hinting at PALLID, versus 'ghastly sight' for HORRIBLE or GRUESOME.