Synonyms of ghost

ghost 1 of 2

noun

ˈgōst 

1

as in apparition

the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people

looked for ghosts in the graveyard on Halloween

Synonyms & Similar Words

• apparition
• spirit
• phantom
• haunt
• wraith
• poltergeist
• shadow
• specter
• vampire
• zombie
• spook
• demon
• sprite
• angel
• phantasm
• vision
• materialization
• ghoul
• visitant
• familiar spirit
• bogey
• hant
• shade
• daimon
• familiar
• genie
• doppelgänger
• double
• fetch
• devil
• incubus
• succubus
• genius
• jinni
• lemures
• manes
• imp
• shaitan
• lamia
• fiend
• cacodemon

2

as in damn

the smallest amount or part imaginable

she may be a good endurance runner, but she doesn't stand a ghost of a chance of winning in a sprint

Synonyms & Similar Words

• damn
• hoot
• whit
• lick
• shred
• little
• bit
• syllable
• darn
• fig
• beans
• rap
• continental
• modicum
• tittle
• squat
• whoop
• iota
• touch
• jot
• doodley-squat
• hint
• ray
• particle
• glimmer
• speck
• diddly-squat
• pin
• diddly
• shadow
• suspicion
• ounce
• trace
• semblance
• streak
• sprinkling
• bubkes
• mite
• peanuts
• scrap
• ace
• spot
• strain
• crumb
• scruple
• smidgen
• nip
• shade
• dab
• driblet
• skosh
• snap

3

as in relic

a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished

the down-at-the-heels town house is but a ghost of the neighborhood's former grandeur

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relic
• trace
• shadow
• artifact
• remnant
• echo
• vestige
• reminder
• corpse
• memento
• afterimage
• remembrance
• hangover
• rest
• aftertaste
• remainder
• leftover
• remain(s)
• residual
• residue
• leavings
• scrap
• balance
• dreg(s)
• oddment

4

as in demon

an evil spirit

the vengeful ghosts of seamen who were deliberately shipwrecked upon these shores

Synonyms & Similar Words

• demon
• ghoul
• vampire
• devil
• nightmare
• wraith
• fairy
• spirit
• goblin
• imp
• genie
• elf
• ghoulie
• monster
• banshee
• phantom
• fiend
• cacodemon
• dwarf
• apparition
• hag
• shaitan
• poltergeist
• troll
• specter
• incubus
• succubus
• spook
• puck
• lamia
• shadow
• vision
• faerie
• phantasm
• pixie
• familiar
• gnome
• gremlin
• sprite
• leprechaun
• jinni
• familiar spirit
• bugbear
• brownie
• ogre
• hobgoblin
• bogey
• fay
• genius
• shade
• afreet
• kobold

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• angel

ghost

2 of 2

verb

as in to pad

Related Words

• pad
• worm
• mouse
• tiptoe
• creep
• snake
• edge
• crawl
• inch
• steal
• sneak
• slide
• lurk
• skulk
• slink
• slip
• shirk
• pussyfoot
• mooch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ghost

Noun

In other instances, Warrick said, there will be ghost carriers or fraudulent pickups of drivers or middlemen posing as legitimate transporters, but who are really smugglers. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026

The English have to contend with not only the ghost of Maradona’s two goals, but also the altitude in Mexico City, which is about 7,350 feet above sea level. — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026

Verb

Havertz’s ability to ghost into the box unmarked had previously worked well in tandem with Jesus, with the Brazilian assisting a couple of his early Arsenal goals with deft flicks into the six-yard box. — Art De Roché, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026

According to Instagram memes and TikTok videos, navy sheets signify the type of man who is wary of labels, will ghost you without warning, and is definitely emotionally unavailable. — Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 27 May 2026

Phrases Containing ghost

• give up the ghost