Horror Genre Terms

verb Cursed is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'curse', which means to invoke harm or misfortune upon someone or something.

adjective Cursed describes something that has been afflicted with a curse or bad luck.

• The ancient artifact was said to be cursed, bringing misfortune to all who possessed it.
• I swear every time I try to fix this old car, something else goes wrong. It's cursed, I tell you.
• That haunted house is totally cursed, dude. I wouldn't go near it if I were you.
• The town's economy seemed cursed, as businesses continued to fail one after another.

noun A cause of distress or anxiety

• The incubus is a demon in male form that preys on sleeping women.
• Some people believe that an incubus is responsible for their sleep paralysis.
• I heard a story about a guy who claimed to have been visited by an incubus in his dreams.
• The oppressive heat felt like an invisible incubus weighing down on the city.

adjective describing someone or something that is nervous or easily startled

• The jumpy horse refused to calm down during the competition.
• Why are you so jumpy today? Did something happen?
• She's always been a bit jumpy, like a cat on a hot tin roof.
• The suspenseful movie had me feeling jumpy throughout the entire film.

noun a situation or experience that is very frightening or unpleasant

• The recurring nightmare has been causing significant distress to the patient.
• Last night's nightmare was so scary, I couldn't go back to sleep.
• That party was a total nightmare, I wish I never went.
• Dealing with that difficult client is a nightmare, I can't wait for it to be over.

adjective of or relating to a tomb or sepulcher; funereal or gloomy

• The sepulchral atmosphere of the ancient tomb was filled with a sense of solemnity.
• The old cemetery had a really creepy, sepulchral vibe to it.
• I ain't going near that sepulchral place, it gives me the heebie-jeebies.
• The sepulchral silence in the room indicated that something was terribly wrong.

noun a demon in female form believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping men

• In folklore, a succubus is a demon or supernatural entity in female form that appears in dreams to seduce men.
• I heard a creepy story about a succubus who preys on unsuspecting men in their sleep.
• Watch out for that succubus, she's known for stealing men's souls.
• The succubus of temptation whispered in his ear, urging him to make a risky decision.

adjective relating to or characteristic of a vampire

• The novel explored the vampiristic tendencies of the main character.
• She has a vampiristic obsession with staying up all night.
• That guy's style is so vampiristic, always wearing black and staying out late.
• His vampiristic charisma captivated everyone at the party.

adjective weird, eerie, or sinister in a supernatural or mysterious way

• The ancient tome was filled with eldritch incantations and mysterious symbols.
• I stumbled upon an eldritch-looking object in the attic.
• That movie was so eldritch, it gave me the creeps.
• The eldritch glow of the moon cast an eerie light on the deserted town.

noun an extreme fear of shadows

• Sciophobia is a recognized medical condition characterized by an irrational fear of shadows.
• I heard Sarah has sciophobia and always carries a flashlight with her at night.
• My friend is so scared of the dark, he's got a serious case of sciophobia.
• His sciophobia is like a cloud hanging over him, always making him anxious in dimly lit places.