dread fascination
"Dread fascination" describes the complex interplay of fear and attraction, often involving a morbid curiosity towards something unsettling or horrifying.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B2General
(common)A strong feeling of both fear and attraction towards something.
Example
- She felt a dread fascination as she watched the horror movie, unable to look away.
C1Psychology
(academic, technical)An intense, often morbid curiosity that combines elements of horror and intrigue.
Example
- His dread fascination with true crime stories kept him up late at night, reading about gruesome details.
C2Supernatural
(historical, folklore)A harmful supernatural influence believed to be caused by the evil eye.
Example
- The villagers believed the old man's curse held a dread fascination over their crops, causing them to wither.