What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Ghastly vs Heinous - What's the difference?

ghastly | heinous | Related terms |

Ghastly is a related term of heinous.


As adjectives the difference between ghastly and heinous

is that ghastly is like a ghost in appearance; deathlike; pale; pallid; dismal while heinous is totally reprehensible.

As an adverb ghastly

is in a ghastly manner.

ghastly

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Like a ghost in appearance; deathlike; pale; pallid; dismal.
  • *(Samuel Taylor Coleridge) (1772-1834)
  • *:Each turned his face with a ghastly pang.
  • * (1800-1859)
  • *:His face was so ghastly that it could scarcely be recognized.
  • Horrifyingly shocking.
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail.
  • *
  • *:They burned the old gun that used to stand in the dark corner up in the garret, close to the stuffed fox that always grinned so fiercely. Perhaps the reason why he seemed in such a ghastly rage was that he did not come by his death fairly. Otherwise his pelt would not have been so perfect. And why else was he put away up there out of sight?—and so magnificent a brush as he had too.
  • Extremely bad.
  • :

    • Synonyms

    * lurid

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In a ghastly manner.
    • He turned ghastly pale on hearing the news.

    heinous

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Totally reprehensible.
    • I hope they catch the person responsible for that heinous crime.
    The perpetrators of this heinous act must be brought to justice.
    The government denounced the attack as the most heinous of the last decade.
    Political Leaders from around the world have condemned these heinous acts.
    In our public services sorry seems to be the most heinous word.

    Usage notes

    * Nouns to which "heinous" is often applied: crime, act, sin, murder, offence.

    Synonyms

    * (totally reprehensible) abominable, horrible, odious

    Anagrams

    * English words not following the I before E except after C rule