ghosts 1 of 2

noun

plural of ghost
1
as in spirits
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people looked for ghosts in the graveyard on Halloween

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2
as in damns
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

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3
as in relics
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

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4
as in demons
an evil spirit the vengeful ghosts of seamen who were deliberately shipwrecked upon these shores

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ghosts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of ghost
as in tiptoes

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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 ghosts
Noun
Think smiling jack-o'-lanterns, black cats, friendly ghosts, retro blow molds and decorations inspired by Halloweens of decades past. — Casey Delbasso, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 This pastel purple throw blanket features a cute pattern of playful ghosts. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 12 Aug. 2026 Forced to confront the ghosts of their past, the partners must navigate a chilling winter landscape and an even darker human monstrosity. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026 There’s ghosts, there’s futures, there’s residue in this building—there’s sweat from colonial histories that reside in brick and concrete for centuries. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Every present thought, every present feeling, collides with a league of their familial ghosts. — Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026 The ghosts of actress Molly Ringwald’s Hollywood past have come back to haunt her. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026 The Canadian producer/musician creates songs that feel like they’re haunted by their own ghosts, laced with intertwining echoes, tiny sonic fractures, and a palpable sense of place. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026 And there’s always a chance that ancient DNA or archeology could ultimately tell us a bit more about what these ghosts might have been. — ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ghosts
  1. spirits
  2. hoots
  3. relics
  4. demons
  5. pads
  6. apparitions
  7. licks
  8. traces
Noun
  • The mini bar—located inside a gorgeous wooden cabinet—was filled with local spirits like pox, a Mayan liquor made of corn, sugar cane, and wheat, and Mayalen Guerrero mezcal in a bottle so beautiful I was tempted to sneak it back in my suitcase.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Drinkwitz has said Hardy is in good spirits throughout his recovery, even having his son accompany him to rehab.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of spirits
Noun
  • With a few hoots and hollers, and even a couple clucks, the group took off on their ascent to the Betty Bear Hut.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 30 July 2026
  • Their hoots and hollers drowned Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s explanation of how a title defense fell short.
    — Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Definition of hoots
Noun
  • Enclosed by a network of 13th-century walls, the narrow streets of old York host myriad awe-inspiring relics from its pre-industrial past, perhaps the most famous being York Minster, one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals anywhere.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Shelving units in the garage are tightly, but neatly, packed with containers of various items, from Nike sneakers to Cold War-era relics, labeled with a description or lot number scrawled in black marker.
    — Sarah Jackson Valentina Duarte, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of relics
Noun
  • She is plagued by psychological demons that destroy most of the relationships around her.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026
  • But Jesus eventually heals the man and casts the demons into a herd of pigs, which tumble over a cliff and drown.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of demons
Verb
  • In other words, the additional money that our companies are shelling out to cover higher memory costs ultimately pads these three companies’ bottom lines.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 21 June 2026
  • Adding the killer’s voice just pads an already too-long book.
    — Maren Longbella, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Definition of pads
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
  • Opening with the title track, feedback-heavy licks set the temperature as Dillom catches us up on the escapades of recent years.
    — Richard Villegas, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Their eponymous debut features some tasty licks and haunting solos and should be an immediate listen for any fans of the genre.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of licks
Noun
  • Rock art in Australia’s Northern Territory, dated to around 20,000 years ago, was found last century to contain clear traces of human blood.
    — Mike McRae August 17, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The modest volumes of Sleeping Muse, or Danaïde, or Bird in Space belie an intricate and iterative labor, which in turn erased its own traces.
    — Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of traces

Browse Nearby Words

ghostly
ghosts
ghostwriter
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Cite this Entry

“Ghosts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ghosts. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of ghosts for Spanish Speakers

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