ghastly

Preposition: for

• word: Had there been any attacks it would have been too ghastly for words.

Infinitive complement

• contemplate: In Zimbabwe, the Press particularly the print media is at crossroads with consequences ghastly to contemplate.

Modifies a noun

• spectacle: Such a gory, ghastly spectacle would frighten the children out of their senses, I should think.
• pale: They told me you were down in the spirit, and that you were of a ghastly pale.
• mess: The whole ghastly mess must be made even bigger!
• sight: Beneath the pointed black hat, Jesse spied a ghastly sight.
• smile: He heard them say He was an exile with a ghastly smile, And murmured not--but rose and left the city.
• mistake: The judges decision is final, and if we've made a ghastly mistake and excluded you then we're very sorry.

Modifying Another Word

• pretty: You must have something pretty ghastly on your conscience to make such a fuss about my trusting you.
• truly: In due course 109 separate entities, each created to carry some aspect of truly ghastly past pain, would identify themselves.
• absolutely: Yes it is absolutely ghastly, I can't bear to have it again.
• rather: Most of the party were smoking, and drinking champagne; a feverish hilarity reigned, with sudden and rather ghastly pauses.
• too: Had there been any attacks it would have been too ghastly for words.
• so: Tube journeys are so ghastly these days, you've got to have something to distract you.

Used with adjective complement

• look: When dad came through the back gate he looked ghastly.
• feel: I felt ghastly - this was the start of the lowest period in my life.
• sound: Balfour: Gosh that sounds ghastly, what could you be referring to?