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 couple made their relationship public in 2008 and went on to appear together in Kelly Reichardt's haunting neo-Western Meek's Cutoff (2010). — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026 Her mainstream breakthrough — and legacy-making performance — arrived with a haunting performance as stalker superfan Annie Wilkes in the 1990 film adaptation of Stephen King’s Misery. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026
Verb
Boltanski’s haunting installation consists of rusting archive boxes stacked to form dark, narrow passageways. — Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026 The Cumberland County Sheriff's Department was alerted to the haunting discovery before transferring the case to state police, officials said. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 2 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
  • Nolan adds his signature intensity to the cop drama, benefitted by one of Williams' creepiest performances.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • Now, your precious pooch can collect the creepy monster bag charms, too, with their very own Labubu dog toys.
    — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 16 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
  • The muggy air on Monday was courtesy Tropical Storm Elida, which is approaching southwestern Mexico and is affecting the surf in Southern California.
    — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 20 July 2026
  • Extreme weather is also affecting metals, though in different ways, Chu said.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 20 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 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on haunting

Nglish: Translation of haunting for Spanish Speakers

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