Synonyms of eerie

eerie

adjective

ˈir-ē 

variants also eery

as in creepy

fearfully and mysteriously strange or fantastic

eerie noises would occasionally come from locked rooms in the castle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• creepy
• weird
• haunting
• spooky
• uncanny
• bizarre
• unearthly
• unusual
• odd
• terrifying
• ghostly
• spectral
• horrible
• ghoulish
• peculiar
• spookish
• ghastly
• quirky
• mysterious
• ghostlike
• quaint
• curious
• terrible
• uncommon
• outlandish
• outré
• puzzling
• metaphysical
• supernatural
• enigmatic
• horrifying
• inscrutable
• dreadful
• enigmatical
• preternatural
• unaccustomed
• queerish
• fearsome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Recent Examples of eerie

Lit Ghost Cloche Add a small but impactful touch of Halloween with these little ghost cloches that add an eerie glow to coffee tables, shelves, and countertops. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2025

Some were faithful copies, while others were reproduced in different colors or fabrics to lend a visual unity to the scene, which is designed to mirror the eerie fairy-tale aesthetic of the fashion film within the film. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025

Over time, exposure to the elements has left the dolls dirty and worn, with peeling paint on their faces, tattered clothing, missing eyes, and no hair, creating a chilling and eerie atmosphere. —Natalia Cano, Billboard, 4 Sep. 2025

In this add on, a meteor lands on a volcanic island and so Kirby is left collecting shards of a shattered crystal and preventing an eerie presence from inside the rock from escaping. —Joshua Lamb, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025