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
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Recent Examples of ghosts
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
The ghosts of a 37-0 shutout to Iowa less than a month ago still lingered — the boos that faded into silence, the homecoming crowd that emptied before the fourth quarter, the scoreboard stuck on humiliation.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
There are guns, horses, ghosts, a primal struggle for survival in hostile terrain, family feuds and a steadily intensifying sense of mortal threat, as Old Porch’s ambition and psychopathy escalate the drama.
—Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
The ghosts of the Nazi past reared their heads when The Secret Floor premiered at the Goldener Spatz in Gera, Germany.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
The Live With Kelly and Mark talk show hostess seemingly hasn't known peace on the scariest day of the year for quite some time, but not because of ghosts and ghoulies plaguing her — but, rather, ungrateful neighbors who consistently complain about her Halloween candy.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Nov. 2025
On the previous episode, the stars danced spooky routines as ghosts, zombies, vampires and more for Halloween Night.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025
So many of its highlights are in black and white, and so many of its GOATs are ghosts, that the former national pastime is easily dismissed as past its prime.
—Steve Rushin, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
This allows both characters to see ghosts, communicate telepathically, and demonstrate clairvoyance.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
These ghosts, which take the form of their dead friends, are mostly just goofy, with the shoddy special effects and glowy auras giving the whole thing a distinctly Haunted Mansion vibe; critically, the threat never feels real, which undermines any tension.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
The ghosts of a 37-0 shutout to Iowa less than a month ago still lingered — the boos that faded into silence, the homecoming crowd that emptied before the fourth quarter, the scoreboard stuck on humiliation.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
There are guns, horses, ghosts, a primal struggle for survival in hostile terrain, family feuds and a steadily intensifying sense of mortal threat, as Old Porch’s ambition and psychopathy escalate the drama.
—Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
The ghosts of the Nazi past reared their heads when The Secret Floor premiered at the Goldener Spatz in Gera, Germany.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
The Live With Kelly and Mark talk show hostess seemingly hasn't known peace on the scariest day of the year for quite some time, but not because of ghosts and ghoulies plaguing her — but, rather, ungrateful neighbors who consistently complain about her Halloween candy.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Nov. 2025
On the previous episode, the stars danced spooky routines as ghosts, zombies, vampires and more for Halloween Night.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025
So many of its highlights are in black and white, and so many of its GOATs are ghosts, that the former national pastime is easily dismissed as past its prime.
—Steve Rushin, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
This allows both characters to see ghosts, communicate telepathically, and demonstrate clairvoyance.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ghosts
Noun
-
The 40th release, however, marks the first time the brand has ever released a tequila—an extra añejo blend put together by a leading name in the agave spirits industry.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Cushla’s world is full of defiant spirits, including her mother, a woman struggling with addiction who spends most of her days bound to her living room and the bottom of a bottle.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Their jaws dropped at the troves of historic artifacts and country music relics laid out before them.—
Laura L. Davis,
Nashville Tennessean,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Explore the relics of the neighborhood that raised the brothers who penned and composed the Black National Anthem, or celebrate the preservation of African heritage at the annual Gullah Geechee Festival.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Rather than rob the story of its teeth, this enabled me to explore the pain, loneliness and personal demons of my characters with sympathy rather than stinging bite.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
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.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Pulse is a ghost story, featuring two interwoven storylines about young Tokyoites who begin to see and hear strange apparitions flitting across their computer screens.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Throughout modern history, visitors have reported ghostly apparitions according to Scary Stories of Mammoth Cave.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There are hoots and hollers from raucous tourists on Bourbon Street, for example.—
Matt Alderton,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
-
There are a few hoots and hollers as the others agree or protest.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Premiering May 15 in Cannes’ ACID sidebar, the France–Palestine–Iran co-production traces Farsi’s efforts to get closer to the conflict when borders made reporting impossible, and finds a singular, resilient voice in Hassona’s daily dispatches from Gaza.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Now, the Avenger wreck is one focal point for scientists in a cutting-edge endeavor to understand whether traces of decades-old DNA can be preserved and detected at wreck sites.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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For centuries, a peace treaty between humans and the Black World — which houses all manner of witches, demons, and ghouls — has been in place to ensure separation between the two factions.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Participants are encouraged to come dressed as ghosts, ghouls, vampires, witches or pop culture characters.—
Marcus Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Ghosts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ghosts. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
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