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familiar spirits

noun

plural of familiar spirit
as in spirits
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people asked the spiritualist to summon the familiar spirit of her late mother for some matrimonial guidance

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 familiar spirits Vermouth is a lower-proof aperitif flavored with herbs, roots, spices, citrus and other botanicals, typically landing somewhere between 15% and 22% ABV—considerably gentler than the roughly 40% ABV of many familiar spirits. — Devin Parr, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for familiar spirits
  1. spirits
  2. apparitions
  3. ghosts
  4. shadows
Noun
  • There was a famous movie in the ’80s called ‘The Entity,’ a horror movie where a woman is visited by spirits and has sex with them.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
  • These adaptogenics also cost as much, if not more, than alcoholic spirits, such as Three Spirit, which incorporates ingredients such as guayusa (stimulating effects), damiana (aphrodisiac effects) and valerian (stress-relieving effects).
    — Esther Tseng, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of spirits
Noun
  • That is, until miraculous apparitions turn it into a place to be.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • Today, the massive complex attracts paranormal investigators who report apparitions, voices, and other unexplained phenomena.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
Definition of apparitions
Noun
  • My aunties are more straightforward, seeing ghosts, that kind of thing.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Back to the ghosts Zwicker also is the author of books about haunted places in New England.
    — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of ghosts
Noun
  • The Supreme Court continues to make consequential rulings in the shadows.
    — Ken B. Morales, ProPublica, 21 Sep. 2026
  • His favorite target, CeeDee Lamb, emerged from the shadows with a breakout game that restores his stature among the NFL’s top wideouts in just one game.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of shadows

Browse Nearby Words

familiar spirit
familiar spirits
families
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Cite this Entry

“Familiar spirits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/familiar%20spirits. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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