haunting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of hauntingnext
as in eerie
fearfully and mysteriously strange or fantastic the haunting tones of the Highland bagpipes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

haunting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of haunt
as in visiting
to go to or spend time in often much of her time is spent haunting antique shops in search of unique knobs for the curio cabinets she builds

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 haunting
Adjective
What unfolds is a heartbreaking, at times haunting story about a little boy who strove to become a legend, and the woman who understood his manic, at times reckless drive. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026 Alexandre Desplat is a shape-shifting genius, and that movie, in addition to being peculiar and amazing, has one of the most haunting scores ever. — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
The Amityville haunting The Warrens are perhaps best known for the Amityville haunting incidents. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Oct. 2026 Its haunting finale featured a spectral Kate Moss floating inside a glass pyramid, conjured through a 19th-century illusion known as Pepper’s Ghost. — Livia Caligor, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for haunting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haunting
  1. eerie
  2. visiting
  3. creepy
  4. frequenting
  5. affecting
Adjective
  • How Eclipse Images Sparked a Scientific Partnership When Druckmüller developed the film from his 1999 eclipse expedition, the photographs didn’t do justice to the event’s eerie beauty.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The six-episode thriller paints an eerie image of small-town life in Newfoundland, and viewers are intrigued by the mystique of the striking Canadian backdrop.
    — Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of eerie
Verb
  • Lionel Messi scored his MLS-leading 26th goal in the 83rd minute to lift visiting Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Sunday night that has major playoff seeding implications.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
  • This week, with Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels visiting Rentschler Field for a Noon kickoff on Saturday, will be an entirely different game plan.
    — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of visiting
Adjective
  • Donning a creepy mask of Democratic rival Xavier Becerra, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton dashed around a children’s Halloween event dishing out candy and warnings about potential liberal tax policies.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Throughout outer space lie stars and galaxies that resemble creepy creatures, spooky skulls and galactic ghouls.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of creepy
Verb
  • Inside McGuire’s Irish Pub, the moody, maze-like dining room is a far cry from the bright and airy seafood joints most vacationers are used to frequenting.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2026
  • O’Neil remains friends with Lizzie, frequenting Maplecroft well into their old age.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of frequenting
Verb
  • That would help HBCUs tell their stories, train media professionals and gain a voice in decisions affecting their future.
    — Lamell J. McMorris, New York Daily News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • In any case, the characters’ specific backgrounds matter less when the play reveals itself to be a metaphor for military conflict, especially the fallout and collateral damage affecting those who are not the strategists and decision makers.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of affecting

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Cite this Entry

“Haunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haunting. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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