as in spectral
of or relating to a ghost
A ghostly figure appears in the house at night.
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Recent Examples of ghostly
Before the spackle dries, shape your ghostly silhouettes with the edge of your palette knife or spatula.
—
Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2025
The marker ink had soaked into the wood floor and preserved the ghostly image of a skirted shadow-girl.
—Annie Proulx, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025
Offshore, kite surfers dance across the lagoon while fishermen paddle slender pirogues above shallow coral gardens alive with neon wrasse and ghostly butterflyfish.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
But unlike Ebenezer Scrooge’s ghostly revelation, which comes when the crotchety character can still act upon it, Ivan’s comes too late to share, giving Tolstoy’s tale a more existential edge.
—Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ghostly
Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2025
The marker ink had soaked into the wood floor and preserved the ghostly image of a skirted shadow-girl.
—Annie Proulx, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025
Offshore, kite surfers dance across the lagoon while fishermen paddle slender pirogues above shallow coral gardens alive with neon wrasse and ghostly butterflyfish.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
But unlike Ebenezer Scrooge’s ghostly revelation, which comes when the crotchety character can still act upon it, Ivan’s comes too late to share, giving Tolstoy’s tale a more existential edge.
—Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ghostly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ghostly
Adjective
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In experiments, by analyzing the spectral features of these vibropolaritons, the new quantum sensor was able to identify an organic molecule known as 4-mercaptobenzonitrile dissolved in an organic solvent.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
4 Sep. 2025
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Interlune is sending a spectral camera to the moon on an Astrolab rover late this year that will help confirm whether their interpretation of remote imagery of the moon’s geology is correct.—
Jeremy Bogaisky,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Presumably, all of Moore's clients were audited, had these phantom losses disallowed, and ended up paying the harsh 40% penalty for lack of economic substance.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Hutch is a phantom presence around the Mansell household at best.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ghostly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ghostly. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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