as in apparitions
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people
Halloween is supposed to be a time when phantoms return to walk among us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 phantoms
Just in time for Halloween, the sonic phantoms that have long plagued the ladies of The View have seemingly possessed inanimate objects over on the Live With Kelly and Mark set.
—
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
Understanding neutrinos’ properties could help explain how how the universe formed, how stars evolve and whether neutrinos, which pass through the Earth and even our bodies like phantoms, are their own antiparticles.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
Because contemporary phantoms of Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, and Rolex are expertly constructed to entice even the most discerning eye, provenance is crucial.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Science and magic, love, humour and phantoms.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
Radlmaier‘s cast of characters also includes an older Asian German who offers tours of his personal highlights of the region rather than the top sights featured in guidebooks, a woman urging others to guess the name of her dog, nude hikers, possible ghosts or phantoms, and more.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
Understanding neutrinos’ properties could help explain how how the universe formed, how stars evolve and whether neutrinos, which pass through the Earth and even our bodies like phantoms, are their own antiparticles.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
Because contemporary phantoms of Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, and Rolex are expertly constructed to entice even the most discerning eye, provenance is crucial.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Science and magic, love, humour and phantoms.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
Radlmaier‘s cast of characters also includes an older Asian German who offers tours of his personal highlights of the region rather than the top sights featured in guidebooks, a woman urging others to guess the name of her dog, nude hikers, possible ghosts or phantoms, and more.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phantoms
Noun
-
The image combines each planet's nightly positions during separate 2025 apparitions, assembled by astrophotographer Petr Horálek, a NOIRLab Audiovisual Ambassador.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Sam slips back into her addiction and as her alcoholism worsens, so do the visions and apparitions that seem to be haunting the forest.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Dining The Pennsylvanian features a Corridor Cafe, where travelers can grab breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with snacks and a selection of beverages, including wine, beer, spirits, and nonalcoholic drinks.—
Abby Price,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The floating objects, trance communications, phantom touches, miraculous healings, and poltergeist writings that followed in the five decades after Mona’s death were attributed to her and a pantheon of other notable spirits, including Black Elk.—
Shannon Taggart,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There are a few characters—the cowboy who leads horseback rides through the canyon (straight from central casting, but totally legit), or the guide who takes you hiking into the desert who knows how to survive on cactus and insects and also feels the presence of Navajo ghosts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The silk mousseline garments floated almost like ghosts or memories of Chanel designs past, including the famous skirt suit with its matching cardigan and Karl Lagerfeld modernisms like jeans with a tweed jacket, plus the iconic flap bag.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Add Giannis Antetokounmpo, and then having a group of hard-working, persistent, industrious players that succeed in the shadows is fine.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
-
He has since been released without bail, but the political implications still sit in the shadows, especially after an event celebrating Black music, culture, and history.—
Essence,
Essence,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phantoms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phantoms. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
