Gothic Vocabulary

• The baleful look in her eyes made me uneasy during the meeting.
• I could tell by her baleful expression that she was not happy with the situation.
• Her baleful glare gave me the creeps.
• The dark clouds gathering overhead had a baleful appearance, signaling an impending storm.

adjective looking or sounding sad and dismal

• The funeral procession had a lugubrious atmosphere, with mourners dressed in black and weeping quietly.
• The movie we watched last night was so lugubrious, it made me feel sad and gloomy.
• I can't stand listening to that lugubrious music, it's such a downer.
• The abandoned house had a lugubrious look to it, with broken windows and overgrown weeds in the yard.

noun a thing, person, or situation that is very large, ugly, and unnatural

• The new building was described as a monstrosity by the architectural critics.
• That car is a total monstrosity, dude.
• I can't believe you're wearing those monstrosity of shoes.
• The corruption in the government was a monstrosity that needed to be addressed.

adjective relating to the river Styx in Greek mythology; dark, gloomy, or forbidding

• The cave was filled with a Stygian darkness that seemed to swallow all light.
• The room was so dark, it felt like a Stygian pit.
• I hate going into that Stygian basement, it gives me the creeps.
• His mood was as Stygian as the storm clouds overhead.

noun no applicable parts of speech

adjective dark; shadowy; obscure

• The tenebrous atmosphere of the cave made it difficult to see beyond a few feet.
• I don't like walking through that tenebrous alley at night, it gives me the creeps.
• The tenebrous vibes at that party were too much for me, I had to leave early.
• His tenebrous thoughts clouded his judgment, leading to poor decision-making.

adjective describing something that resembles or is characteristic of a tomb

• The interior of the ancient cathedral was dark and tomblike, with stone walls towering overhead.
• The basement of that old house feels so tomblike, like something out of a horror movie.
• The club was so crowded and hot, it felt tomblike in there.
• The silence in the room was so thick and heavy, it felt tomblike with tension.

noun a love or preference for the night or darkness

• Nyctophilia is a love or preference for the night or darkness.
• I think I might have nyctophilia because I always feel more alive at night.
• Some people call themselves night owls but I prefer the term nyctophilia.
• Her nyctophilia for mystery novels led her to stay up all night reading.

adjective relating to the River Acheron in ancient Greek mythology, which was believed to be a branch of the underworld; infernal or gloomy

• The acherontic depths of the ocean remain largely unexplored.
• I don't want to watch that acherontic movie, it's too scary.
• The abandoned house has such an acherontic vibe, let's not go there.
• The acherontic pain of losing a loved one can be unbearable.

adjective feeling fear or apprehension; afraid

adverb in a fearful or apprehensive manner

• She was afeard of the dark forest ahead.
• I'm afeard of spiders, they give me the creeps.
• Don't be afeard, I got your back.
• He was afeard of taking risks and missed out on many opportunities.