as in ghost
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people
we thought a poltergeist was knocking dishes off the shelves, but it turned out to just be vibrations from passing trains
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poltergeist
Despite debuting nearly 40 years after the original, the poltergeist scared up a strong $452 million at the global box office.
—
Angelique Jackson, Variety, 1 Aug. 2025
On a more intimate scale, Gemma and Cady’s new Bay Area rental is a smart house where everything is a potential poltergeist, from the ice dispenser to the vacuum.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
Things take a turn when the family discovers that their charming rental is already occupied—by a centuries old poltergeist.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 26 Mar. 2025
Houses have always been haunted, but, whereas poltergeists of yore troubled the suburban idyll of white America, in these shows the scariest spectre is a disappearing profit margin.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poltergeist
Angelique Jackson, Variety, 1 Aug. 2025
On a more intimate scale, Gemma and Cady’s new Bay Area rental is a smart house where everything is a potential poltergeist, from the ice dispenser to the vacuum.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
Things take a turn when the family discovers that their charming rental is already occupied—by a centuries old poltergeist.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 26 Mar. 2025
Houses have always been haunted, but, whereas poltergeists of yore troubled the suburban idyll of white America, in these shows the scariest spectre is a disappearing profit margin.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poltergeist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poltergeist
Noun
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Georgetown's ghost tours are just one activity visitors can participate in as a part of the Kentucky After Dark passport program.—
Stephanie Stremplewski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
25 Oct. 2025
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Some locals believe founder Charles Pfister still roams the property, according to reports, and even celebrities like rapper Megan Thee Stallion have gone ghost hunting there.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The store that kinda just appears one night in your local mall like an apparition only has a few months to make a year’s worth of revenue.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
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These days, Maurice is said to appear as an apparition on the 14th floor.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For bones, spirits, and some menacing dolls, here’s where to go for a fright.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
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The spirit has strong notes of star anise and caraway, with a range of holiday spices.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In this 2000 film starring Taylor Handley and Mickey Rooney, 17-year-old Pete Riley (Handley) works at the local movie theater, which is rumored to be haunted by a phantom.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Veneziale’s dad is often responsible for picking up items further afield, such as an animated phantom that had been listed on Facebook Marketplace.—
Laura Kiniry,
Popular Science,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poltergeist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poltergeist. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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