Well, words like 'ominous' are really good for a horror story. It gives a feeling that something bad is going to happen. 'Bleak' can be used to describe a desolate and hopeless setting, which is often found in horror stories. 'Malevolent' is another powerful word. It refers to having or showing a wish to do evil to others. Picture a malevolent spirit in a horror story, lurking in the shadows, waiting to cause harm.
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.
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.
Some good descriptive words for a horror story are 'eerie', 'creepy' and 'gloomy'. 'Eerie' gives a sense of something strange and unsettling. 'Creepy' makes the reader feel a shiver of fear. 'Gloomy' sets a dark and depressing atmosphere which is often found in horror stories.
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.
For a scary story, 'menacing' is a good descriptive word. It shows that there is a threat looming. 'Ominous' is also very effective, as it suggests that something bad is going to happen. 'Shadowy' can be used to describe a character or a place, making it seem mysterious and a bit scary, like there could be something lurking in those shadows.
Engaging, vivid, and captivating are great descriptive words for stories. 'Engaging' implies that the story can hold the reader's attention well. 'Vivid' suggests that the details in the story are so clear that it's like the reader can see, hear, and feel everything in it. 'Captivating' means that the story has a charm that makes the reader want to keep reading.
One good descriptive horror story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It vividly describes the narrator's descent into madness as he obsesses over an old man's 'vulture - like' eye. The detailed account of how he plans and executes the murder, and then is haunted by the sound of the old man's still - beating heart beneath the floorboards is truly terrifying. The use of sensory details like the sound of the heart getting louder and louder makes the horror palpable.
Ghastly. This word can be used to describe a really horrible appearance or situation. For instance, a ghastly face emerging from the darkness. 'Shudder - inducing' is another one. It means that it makes you shudder, like a shudder - inducing scream in a horror story. It directly shows the physical reaction the horror element causes.
One word is 'bleak'. A bleak setting in a horror story can be a desolate landscape or a rundown building, giving a feeling of hopelessness. 'Grim' is also good. It gives the idea of something harsh and unforgiving, like a grim reaper - like figure. 'Ominous' is a classic. It makes the reader anticipate something bad. For example, an ominous cloud or an ominous silence.
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.