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
  • At the Old Bailey Gallery, curator Dan Bailey hosts visiting artists to build the city's relationship with outside talent, while Studio by the Tracks has forged a grassroots space for artists with autism.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Lehmann was reminded of the conversation after visiting Vicuña’s solo show at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) last November.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of visiting
Adjective
  • Haunted Eyes Albeit creepy, nothing sends haunting vibes like a pair eye decals.
    — Michella Oré, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Meteorologist Margaret Fairchild's (Emily Blunt) creepy report does, however, light the fuse on Steven Spielberg's UFO epic.
    — Tom Bailey, Space.com, 9 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
  • And even the respondents who are skeptical of anything actually affecting the integrity of the games, are concerned about the possibility – known to exist beyond sports – of insider trading on the prediction markets.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Just in the past year, California has closed two diesel refineries which is dramatically increasing the prices of diesel, the price of diesel in California, but also affecting the quantities across the entire country.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 18 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 19 Oct. 2026.

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