specter

noun

spec·ter | \ ˈspek-tər

variants: or spectre

Definition of specter

1 : a visible disembodied spirit : ghost

2 : something that haunts or perturbs the mind : phantasm the specter of hunger

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about specter

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Examples of specter in a Sentence

feeling so terrified that every shadow became a specter

Recent Examples on the Web

Unsurprisingly, the specter of arrest and deportation is more than enough to keep children from school. — Luke Darby, GQ, "Betsy DeVos Says Schools Should Call ICE on Undocumented Students," 26 May 2018 Whether the looming specter of Prefontaine or Bowerman is a boon or a burden for old Hayward Field is open to debate. — Martin Fritz Huber, Outside Online, "Farewell, Old Hayward Field," 27 Apr. 2018 But there, as in here, the specter of a president acting on impulse and prejudice loomed large. — Cristian Farias, Daily Intelligencer, "It’s Donald Trump’s Supreme Court Now," 26 June 2018 Jonathan Anderson looked completely at peace in Paris earlier this week, despite the specter of his latest Loewe show looming in short distance. — Monica Kim, Vogue, "J.W. Anderson on the Beauty of Being Basic—And His Latest Uniqlo Collection," 3 Mar. 2019 This leads to the terrifying specter of independent actors intentionally (or unintentionally) engineering pathogens with the potential to inflict worse harm than history’s deadliest pandemics. — R. Daniel Bressler, Vox, "“Designer bugs”: how the next pandemic might come from a lab," 6 Dec. 2018 Meanwhile, the specter of death hangs around the Inhumans and the Ghost Rider of a dark future in Donny Cates's Death of Inhumans and Cosmic Ghost Rider. — Phillip Molnar, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Comic Con 2018: Here's your Saturday schedule," 7 July 2018 The specter of a new conflict with Israel hangs over the territory. — Erin Cunningham, Washington Post, "Gazans have survived years of war. Now depression is killing them.," 20 June 2018 Last: 8 Stats: 27.4 PPG, 8.8 APG, 36.1% 3FG The specter of LeBron James’ future will hang over this pick whether warranted or not, but the Cavs simply could use some young talent regardless. — Jeremy Woo, SI.com, "2018 NBA Mock Draft 7.1: Projecting All 60 Picks Post-Combine," 21 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'specter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.