variants also eery

Synonym Chooser

How is the word eerie distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words uncanny and weird are common synonyms of eerie. While all three words mean "mysteriously strange or fantastic," eerie suggests an uneasy or fearful consciousness that mysterious and malign powers are at work.

an eerie calm preceded the bombing raid

When is it sensible to use uncanny instead of eerie?

While in some cases nearly identical to eerie, uncanny implies disquieting strangeness or mysteriousness.

an uncanny resemblance between total strangers

When can weird be used instead of eerie?

The words weird and eerie are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, weird may imply an unearthly or supernatural strangeness or it may stress peculiarity or oddness.

weird creatures from another world

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of eerie This year’s lineup includes towering pumpkin monsters and eerie graveyard creatures, reflecting growing desires for over-the-top decor. Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025 But there’s eerie stuff going down on this old farmhouse, and Todd just won’t heed his furry best friend’s warnings. Laura Martin, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025 Visitors can even join a paranormal investigation of the eerie artifact. Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025 Spooky season is officially in full swing and Nashville's nightlife scene is getting a haunted makeover with Halloween pop-up bars transforming familiar haunts into eerie, immersive experiences. Mackensy Lunsford, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for eerie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eerie
Adjective
  • Keep the creepy vibe going by navigating the Great Godfrey Maze or the Demange Farm Corn Maze by flashlight.
    Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Of course, as with many Woody Allen scenarios, what once seemed light as a feather now feels a little creepy.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Rather, this is about how the touchdowns rate on the weird/ridiculous scale.
    Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
  • There was a divine perfection to it all in a weird way.
    Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Silent films like Les Vampires (1915) and Nosferatu (1922) demonstrate how these bloodsucking entities have a haunting appeal that naturally lend themselves to the silver screen.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
  • And in the Greenbrier Valley Theatre, a 19th century murder and spectral testimony remains one of Appalachia's most haunting legends.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Eerie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eerie. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on eerie

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