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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in demons
an evil spirit
the vengeful ghosts of seamen who were deliberately shipwrecked upon these shores
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 20 June 2026
Co-stars include Aaron Paul and Bryce Dallas Howard in the story of two fraudulent paranormal investigators who are forced to face real ghosts and the lies underpinning their business.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 19 June 2026
The past and present are reduced to ghosts.
—Jude Noel, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
In one case, while working on an excavation, archeologists spoke with a local woman who recalled that, in her childhood, anyone who had to go near the road at night would sprint past it for fear of ghosts.
—Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 18 June 2026
The film’s opening finds the town deindustrialized and full of ghosts.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 17 June 2026
Additionally, ghosts are decidedly a thing of the past, while weight-loss is statistically more likely to be temporary than long-lasting.
—Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
The ghosts of Belo Horizonte However, no moment symbolizes Brazilian soccer’s decline more than the 90 minutes of chaos at Belo Horizonte’s Mineirão stadium when the host nation took on Die Mannschaft in the World Cup semifinals on July 8, 2014.
—Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
The question is, can German manager Thomas Tuchel, who coached Chelsea to a Champions League crown, lead England past the ghosts of 40 years of World Cup heartbreak and the disappointment of losing the last two European Championship finals?
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
Noun
Now adults and estranged, the siblings battle perception, reality, legacy and plenty of ghosts.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 20 June 2026
Co-stars include Aaron Paul and Bryce Dallas Howard in the story of two fraudulent paranormal investigators who are forced to face real ghosts and the lies underpinning their business.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 19 June 2026
The past and present are reduced to ghosts.
—Jude Noel, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
In one case, while working on an excavation, archeologists spoke with a local woman who recalled that, in her childhood, anyone who had to go near the road at night would sprint past it for fear of ghosts.
—Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 18 June 2026
The film’s opening finds the town deindustrialized and full of ghosts.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 17 June 2026
Additionally, ghosts are decidedly a thing of the past, while weight-loss is statistically more likely to be temporary than long-lasting.
—Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
The ghosts of Belo Horizonte However, no moment symbolizes Brazilian soccer’s decline more than the 90 minutes of chaos at Belo Horizonte’s Mineirão stadium when the host nation took on Die Mannschaft in the World Cup semifinals on July 8, 2014.
—Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
The question is, can German manager Thomas Tuchel, who coached Chelsea to a Champions League crown, lead England past the ghosts of 40 years of World Cup heartbreak and the disappointment of losing the last two European Championship finals?
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ghosts
Noun
-
Thank you for a plethora of news on June 17 that didn’t crush our spirits.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
-
As one of the world’s largest spirits conglomerates, the company certainly had access to some choice, well-aged stocks.—
David Thomas Tao,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Wiseman said to hoots from the crowd of media gathered at the site.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But the First Amendment is more than a few eloquent phrases about free speech, and its principles are far from historical relics.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
Even the rarest materials—Basra pearls, Golconda diamonds—get new life in a striking pair of earrings from Santi that mimic Maharaja ornamentation without feeling like ancient relics.—
Jill Newman,
Robb Report,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
When their biggest demonic enemy (Lee Byung-hun) encourages the formation of an equally popular K-pop boy band aimed at stealing the souls of their fans, the trio has to fight harder than ever to hold the demons at bay while keeping their friendship intact.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
-
These are places from Filipino folklore, where shapeshifters, demons, witches, and monsters exist.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Adding the killer’s voice just pads an already too-long book.—
Maren Longbella,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Not to say there aren’t some clunkers, most notably a jokey take-me-out-to-the-ballgame baseball number that pads the second act, but the Flaherty-Ahrens score was and is Ragtime‘s signature achievement.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Today, the massive complex attracts paranormal investigators who report apparitions, voices, and other unexplained phenomena.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
-
Why then, when discussing body image after weight changes, is our culture reaching for the language of vexing apparitions and death?—
Virgie Tovar,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Zachary Stevenson’s performance replicates the nerdy-yet-hip Texan through impressive guitar licks and superb vocals that are equally comfortable with sweet ballads and on-the-edge rockabilly songs.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
-
Elk, deer, and buffalo had migrated to and from mineral licks throughout North America for millennia.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
It's believed a similar construction may have existed early on at Stonehenge itself, but any traces of that structure would have been erased as development continued into what is there today.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
18 June 2026
-
The demand the money is chasing The spending traces to a supply problem Alphabet has described in unusually blunt terms.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ghosts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ghosts. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
