variants also eery
Definition of eerienext

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 Oh yeah, there’s really eerie choral music playing during that scene in the episode. Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026 Sam’s silhouette is backlit by alternating reds and blues that evoke police lights (designed by Maximo Grano De Oro) while sound designer Satya Chávez contributes an eerie soundscape. Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026 Set against the eerie backdrop of a remote forest in Germany, the story follows a group of young Americans from the beauty and fashion industry attending a wellness retreat. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026 The most recent of these was just two years ago, when eastern and central swathes of the United States experienced the path of totality, the phenomenon that casts daytime into eerie midnight blackness for unnerving lengths of time. Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for eerie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eerie
Adjective
  • While its 209-minute runtime may be daunting, the film moves along at an entertaining clip (thanks in part to master editor Thelma Schoonmaker), and the viewer's patience is rewarded with a haunting conclusion that recontextualizes all that came before.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The 2019 overdose death of aspiring personal trainer Cody McLaury was found to have a haunting connection to Perry.
    Jack Hannah, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Before the title card, there is also a creepy look at Matt with no eyes, nose or mouth.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Screenwriter Jeremy Robbins sets up what appears to be a potential threat in a creepy kangaroo hunter (Matt Whelan) and his drunken mate (Rob Carlton), whose names alone, Diesel and Ripper, carry a hint of menace.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Eerie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eerie. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

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