What are some descriptive words to use in a horror story?

Words like 'dreadful', 'terrifying' and 'frightening' are quite essential. 'Dreadful' gives a sense of something that is very bad and causes fear. 'Terrifying' is more intense, it really emphasizes the level of horror. 'Frightening' is a more general but effective word to make the reader scared.

Grim is a great word. It describes a situation or a setting that is very unpleasant and often related to death or suffering. Sinister is also useful. It gives the idea of something evil or threatening. And then there's 'dreadful'. It simply means causing great fear or terror. For example, a dreadful monster in a horror story can make the readers' hearts race.

Eerie, a great word for creating an atmosphere of unease. It makes the reader or listener feel like something strange and unsettling is about to happen. Another is 'creepy', which gives the sense of a slow - building fear. And 'macabre', which is often associated with death and the grotesque, adding a very dark and disturbing element to the horror story.

There are also 'gloomy', 'blood - curdling', and 'unnerving'. 'Gloomy' sets a dark and depressing mood, like a gloomy forest filled with mist. 'Blood - curdling' is used for things that are so scary they make your blood seem to freeze, like a blood - curdling scream. 'Unnerving' makes one feel disturbed or on edge, like an unnerving silence before something bad is about to happen.

Use them sparingly. For example, if you constantly say 'terrifying' every other sentence, it loses its impact. Instead, sprinkle them in at key moments, like when the monster first appears. You can say 'A sinister figure emerged from the shadows', which creates a more effective scare.

Some descriptive words for novels are 'captivating', which means it can hold the reader's attention firmly. 'Intriguing' is also a good one, suggesting that the plot or characters arouse the reader's curiosity. And 'engaging', it implies that the novel makes the reader get involved in the story.

Some good words are 'gloom', 'eerie' and 'creak'. 'Gloom' can set a dark and depressing atmosphere. 'Eerie' gives a sense of the uncanny and strange, making the reader feel uneasy. And 'creak', like the sound of an old door in a haunted house, adds a touch of fear as it implies something is about to happen.

Words like 'eerie', 'macabre', and 'sinister' are also good. 'Eerie' describes a feeling of unease and strangeness. For example, an eerie silence in a dark forest. 'Macabre' is related to death and the gruesome. You could use it to describe a macabre scene in a cemetery. 'Sinister' suggests an evil or malicious intent, like a sinister figure lurking in the shadows.

You can combine descriptive words for a stronger effect. Say 'the gloomy, shadowy forest'. The two words together create a more vivid and scarier image than just one. Also, use them to describe actions or sounds. For instance, 'the eerie creaking of the old door' makes the story more immersive and scary. You can also use them to build suspense. Start with a less intense word like 'creepy' and gradually move to stronger ones like 'menacing' as the story progresses.

Well, in a horror story, descriptive words are like the paint on the canvas. Words like 'creaking' for an old door add an instant sense of unease. 'Shadowy' figures are more menacing than just'someone'. And when you describe a place as 'decaying', it gives the idea of something that was once alive but is now falling apart, which is a very common and effective trope in horror. It helps the reader better visualize the horror and feel the emotions of the characters.