the specter of (something)
idiom
: a notion or fear of something bad that might happen in the future
a nation alarmed/haunted by the specter of famine/war
News of the disease raised the specter of a possible plague.
Examples of the specter of (something) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
During one Senate Finance Committee hearing, panel co-chair Lyman Hoffman, who has represented rural Alaskan school districts for 38 years, raised the specter of a civil rights lawsuit similar to those the state has faced in the past over education in primarily Indigenous communities.
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Emily Schwing, NPR, 1 Aug. 2025
Here’s a look at countries that have a deal — and those that don’t
Come Friday, the world will have to contend with higher tariff rates from the Trump administration, raising the specter of even more economic uncertainty.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 31 July 2025
Even for those happy with the current economic state of affairs in the country, the specter of tariffs and inflation over the next four years threaten to quickly erode any current gains.
—Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
How can a city council plan for a new library, park, or community center when the specter of variable-rate debt hangs over their heads?
—Joe Stapleton, Oc Register, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for the specter of (something)
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Emily Schwing, NPR, 1 Aug. 2025
Here’s a look at countries that have a deal — and those that don’t
Come Friday, the world will have to contend with higher tariff rates from the Trump administration, raising the specter of even more economic uncertainty.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 31 July 2025
Even for those happy with the current economic state of affairs in the country, the specter of tariffs and inflation over the next four years threaten to quickly erode any current gains.
—Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
How can a city council plan for a new library, park, or community center when the specter of variable-rate debt hangs over their heads?
—Joe Stapleton, Oc Register, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for the specter of (something)
Cite this Entry
“The specter of (something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20specter%20of%20%28something%29. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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