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
As tensions rise and boundaries begin to blur, their grandmother’s frail presence takes on an increasingly disturbing quality, turning a once-idyllic summer into a haunting passage into adulthood. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026 Ishiguro’s novel is a haunting, sad story about loss and time passing and the nature of humanity, and this seems quite a bit cuter than that. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 14 Sep. 2026
Verb
In the days that followed, the news footage and descriptions of the devastation were haunting and omnipresent. — Michael Silver, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Its lyrics were haunting, so much so that Eurovision parent organization the European Broadcasting Union required a rewrite for its entry. — Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for haunting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haunting
  1. eerie
  2. visiting
  3. creepy
  4. frequenting
  5. affecting
Adjective
  • A lot of records released on or around 9/11 took on some eerie subtext after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers.
    — Charles Moss, SPIN, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The dark, eerie underground tunnel the ragtag group finds themselves in?
    — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of eerie
Verb
  • Spending time on the patio becomes as much a part of the fun as visiting the falls itself.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Pulido tapped into core childhood memories of visiting family in Chihuahua to achieve just the right flavor and consistency.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of visiting
Adjective
  • Soon, readers unsatisfied with Stoker’s version of events can chat to Renfield and hear that creepy familiar react in real time.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Early reviews put it in the category of useful but slightly creepy.
    — Hayden Field, The Verge, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of creepy
Verb
  • O’Neil remains friends with Lizzie, frequenting Maplecroft well into their old age.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Along with frequenting the 187-year-old Neilson’s department store, visitors can eat in one of four Michelin recommended restaurants.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of frequenting
Verb
  • Over the past decade, cyberattacks against the education sector have risen expeditiously, exposing sensitive data, temporarily disrupting school operations and affecting students' learning.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • El Niño is a natural climate pattern that has far-reaching impacts across the planet, potentially affecting hundreds of millions of people.
    — Lauren Sommer, NPR, 5 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 7 Oct. 2026.

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