as in eerie
fearfully and mysteriously strange or fantastic
the haunting tones of the Highland bagpipes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of haunting
Cazzie David, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
In 2017, a former store clerk, Pedro Hernandez, was convicted in New York of murder in one of the nation’s most haunting missing-child cases, nearly 38 years after 6-year-old Etan Patz (AY’-tahn payts) disappeared while on the way to a school bus stop.
—ABC News, 29 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Which Wuthering Heights best matches the story’s jagged, haunting landscape to the fighting spirit of its central lovers?
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for haunting
Adjective
Come to think of it, becoming a musician might be the ultimate haunting tactic.
—Cazzie David, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
In 2017, a former store clerk, Pedro Hernandez, was convicted in New York of murder in one of the nation’s most haunting missing-child cases, nearly 38 years after 6-year-old Etan Patz (AY’-tahn payts) disappeared while on the way to a school bus stop.
—ABC News, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
Was the Beijing fiasco still haunting her?
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Which Wuthering Heights best matches the story’s jagged, haunting landscape to the fighting spirit of its central lovers?
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for haunting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haunting
Adjective
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But just a year before the series dropped, there was a different high-profile homicide less than two hours from Murphy’s hometown of Indianapolis involving a huge brick mansion and an ominous rubber suit—eerie similarities to the first season of the FX series.—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
19 Feb. 2026
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The combination of eerie rubber gloves and makeup artist Emi Kaneko’s oxblood lip at Lii seemed to embody the spirit of the main character of the 2013 sci-fi thriller Under the Skin.—
Arden Fanning Andrews,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That said, finding the right mortgage interest rate for your needs and goals isn't always as simple as visiting your local banking branch.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
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Zuraff’s case has become the latest flashpoint in Florida’s debate over medical freedom, as video footage of state workers visiting her house in 2024 circulates online.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Then there's SpongeBob SquarePants, whose latest movie finds the iconic character venturing to the creepy Underworld with a dastardly phantom pirate.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
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Light a candelabra, put on some face paint, hire that creepy choir—or at least rent a keyboard to sound like one.—
Sam Goldner,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Morrison — who’s opening the concept with his wife, Monica — said it’s named after the owl that’s been frequenting his backyard since his sons were born.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
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So instead of criticizing yourself for frequenting the same place over and over again, lean into it even more.—
Ellen O’Brien,
SELF,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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How airspace restrictions are affecting flights right now Several airspaces are currently closed, meaning flights across the region have been grounded, suspended, and rerouted.—
Hana Al-Khodairi,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Feb. 2026
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Bayliss Wagner is a Texas politics reporter, covering the Legislature, state and federal campaigns, major political court cases and policy affecting the San Antonio region, South Texas and the state as a whole.—
Bayliss Wagner,
San Antonio Express-News,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Haunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haunting. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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