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
The glamorous, haunting, oh-so-theatrical love story of the legendary Baron Laurence Olivier and his equally iconic first lady, Vivien Leigh, is one filled with superlatives on both sides. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026 These numbers are especially haunting because the movement was never only about women. — Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
Cinematographer Armand Thirard’s subtle and shadowy lighting intensifies Diabolique’s haunting suspense and sense of claustrophobia, which later inspired Hitchcock’s Psycho. — Air Mail, 10 Oct. 2026 Halloween on the Hill Des Moines The historic homes in Des Moines’ Sherman Hill neighborhood become a spectacle of haunting decorations and thrilling sights during the annual Halloween on the Hill event. — Michelle Mastro, Midwest Living, 9 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
  • For instance, Siri’s lack of thinking power compared with other ultra-smart AI agents means that there’s far less of a chance of going rogue, or behaving in eerie ways.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister An eerie fable that seems to take place across and outside of time, The Bog Wife is already a classic of the modern bog-core genre.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of eerie
Verb
  • A day later, masked settlers attacked a group of European diplomats and others visiting the Christian village of Taybeh.
    — Koral Saeed, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Finally, the delegation co-chairs should host a weekly coffee for Illinoisans visiting Washington with brief opening remarks and opportunities for a Q&A and photos.
    — John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of visiting
Adjective
  • Palmer doesn’t appear until the last 15 minutes, but her creepy performance is indelible.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • As her son Rauri, Murphy plays a creepy, brooding university dropout whom audiences also can’t help sympathize with.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 18 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 can be normal in venture, where deals are attributed to top partners, but seems to be affecting women more.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
  • At the same time, Harris, closer in age to his part than the women, moves and sounds like the old cowboys, with an affecting note of sorrow — the lion dying, and dying with regrets — sounding throughout his performance.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 Oct. 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 22 Oct. 2026.

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