eerie

ee·rie

adjective \ˈir-ē\

ee·ri·eree·ri·est

Definition of EERIE

1

chiefly Scottish : affected with fright : scared

2

: so mysterious, strange, or unexpected as to send a chill up the spine <a coyote's eerie howl> <the similarities were eerie>; also : seemingly not of earthly origin <the flames cast an eerie glow>

— ee·ri·ly \ˈir-ə-lē\ adverb

— ee·ri·ness \ˈir-ē-nəs\ noun

Variants of EERIE

ee·rie also ee·ry \ˈir-ē\

Examples of EERIE

1. The flames cast an eerie glow.
2. a land of eerie beauty

Origin of EERIE

Middle English (northern dialect) eri

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to EERIE

Synonyms

creepy, haunting, spookish, spooky, uncanny, unearthly, weird

Related Words

ghastly, ghostlike, ghostly, ghoulish, spectral; bizarre, curious, odd, outlandish, outré, peculiar, quaint, queerish, quirky; unaccustomed, uncommon, unusual; metaphysical, preternatural, supernatural; enigmatic (also enigmatical), inscrutable, mysterious, puzzling; dreadful, fearsome, horrible, horrifying, terrible, terrifying

Near Antonyms

common, commonplace, everyday, normal, ordinary, prosaic, routine, typical, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual; natural; expected, familiar, predictable

See Synonym Discussion at weird

Rhymes with EERIE

beery, bleary, cheery, dreary, leery, Peary, peri, quaere, query, smeary, sphery, teary, veery, weary