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
Neill was characteristically humble about his role in this haunting masterpiece. — ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026 One of the most haunting shots is Odysseus sprinting out of Hades chased by an army of the dead who regret following him into battle. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Verb
In Backrooms, Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Clark, a struggling furniture store owner who enters an interdimensional portal to a haunting maze in the facility’s basement. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Additional scenes included the trailer appear to show Chastain's character haunting the young girl. — Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for haunting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haunting
  1. eerie
  2. visiting
  3. creepy
  4. frequenting
  5. affecting
Adjective
  • During totality, the moon will completely block the sun, revealing the solar corona — the sun’s outer atmosphere — while turning day into an eerie twilight.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Some of the best songs are less than two minutes, coming and going with eerie focus, leaving lingering afterimages.
    — Brian Howe, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026
Definition of eerie
Verb
  • Yordan Alvarez socked his 34th home run in the eighth inning, a tiebreaking two-run shot that lifted the Houston Astros to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Miami Marlins and a sweep of the three-game interleague series.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
  • The scene in question came after host Robert Irwin and visiting pro Brandon Armstrong, who served as Monday’s coach of the week, split the 10 remaining contestants into couples for a storytelling challenge.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026
Definition of visiting
Adjective
  • Or maybe his creepy siblings are in the building also and soon Negan will be in the most terrifying encounter of his life.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Some people see swamps as sloughs of despond; dark, miasmic places filled with creepy, shadowy creatures.
    — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of creepy
Verb
  • After completing his four-year stretch, Clayton-Thomas in 1962 began frequenting the music scene on the Yonge Street strip, when Arkansas rockabilly great Ronnie Hawkins gave him his first paying job in music.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026
  • Arthur Van Wyk, who produces comedy events in Durban, began frequenting the bar some three decades ago.
    — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026
Definition of frequenting
Verb
  • And, crucially, removing fuel is the only element of the natural factors affecting the spread of a wildfire that humans can control.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
  • Many respondents also said work was affecting their physical health, relationships and ability to pursue hobbies and interests.
    — Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 27 July 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 29 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on haunting

Nglish: Translation of haunting for Spanish Speakers

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