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morbid — having an unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, especially death and disease

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: having an unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, especially death and disease

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈmɔːrbɪd/

Example Sentences

  • His morbid sense of humor made everyone uncomfortable at the dinner party.
  • Stop being so morbid and think about something positive for once!
  • She had a morbid collection of vintage medical instruments in her living room.

morbid

ADJECTIVE

[/ˈmɔːrbɪd/]

having an unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, especially death and disease

Surrounded by skulls and bones, the scholar had a morbid fascination with death.
💡 Concept

Surrounded by skulls and bones, the scholar had a morbid fascination with death.

Her morbid curiosity made her stop and stare at the old cemetery even though the others wanted to leave. (Think of the common phrase: MORBID CURIOSITY: You know something is disturbing—
but you can't stop looking.)
🧠 Mnemonic

Her morbid curiosity made her stop and stare at the old cemetery even though the others wanted to leave. (Think of the common phrase: MORBID CURIOSITY: You know something is disturbing— but you can't stop looking.)

The morbid story was horrid and sordid, filled with grim details of a corrupt crime.
🎵 Rhyme

The morbid story was horrid and sordid, filled with grim details of a corrupt crime.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈmɔːrbɪd/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈmɔːbɪd/

🌳Etymology

Rootmorb
Suffix--id

Origin

From Latin 'morbidus' meaning 'diseased' or 'sick', derived from 'morbus' meaning 'disease' or 'illness'. The word entered English in the 17th century and originally referred to physical disease before expanding to describe unhealthy psychological interests.

Breakdown

morb- (from Latin morbus, disease) + -id (adjective suffix meaning 'having the quality of') = morbid (having the quality of disease or sickness)

🎵Rhyme

absorbed
disturbed

🔗Collocations

morbid curiosity
morbid fascination
morbid thoughts
morbid obesity
morbid fear
morbid imagination

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“His morbid sense of humor made everyone uncomfortable at the dinner party.”

“Stop being so morbid and think about something positive for once!”

😄 Fun example

“She had a morbid collection of vintage medical instruments in her living room.”

“The documentary explored the morbid reality of life in war zones.”

📚Related Words

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