What does "ghoul" mean?
A demon said to feed on corpses.
Ghoul
/ɡuːl/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A demon said to feed on corpses.
- Grammar: ghoul is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: afreet, ape-man, baba yaga, barghest.
- Useful contrasts: angel, living person, saint.
- Usage evidence: Wake up! The Great Ghoul Duel is about to begin!
How to use "ghoul"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ghoul" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "ghoul" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "ghoul" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "ghoul" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ghoul" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "afreet" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "ghoul", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A demon said to feed on corpses.
"The other chamber had shown a pack of ghouls and witches over-running the world of our forefathers, but this one brought the horror right into our own daily life!."
- 2 an evil spirit or ghost wordnet
- 3 A graverobber.
- 4 someone who takes bodies from graves and sells them for anatomical dissection wordnet
- 5 A person with an undue interest in death and corpses, or more generally in things that are revolting and repulsive.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A person with a callous or uncaring attitude to human life and suffering, particularly when prioritizing economic concerns. colloquial, derogatory
"Restored to bumptiousness, Peter arrived jauntily in the kitchen, to survey Mrs Dibble's body as a spectacle new to him, and remark, "So the old trout's done herself in properly this time, I'm told. About time she did, the way she's been going on here." "Shut up, you old ghoul, and help Dr Grimsby to carry her upstairs.""
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Wake up! The Great Ghoul Duel is about to begin!"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "ghoul"?
Common synonyms include: afreet, ape-man, baba yaga, barghest, bete noire, body snatcher.
How do you use "ghoul" in a sentence?
Wake up! The Great Ghoul Duel is about to begin!
How do you pronounce "ghoul"?
Pronounced /ɡuːl/.
Etymology
Borrowed from French goule, from Persian غول (ġul) from Arabic غُول (ḡūl).