as in spirits
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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Recent Examples of poltergeists
There are newspaper clippings, from the 1950s through to the 2000s, concerning ghost sightings, or reports of poltergeists in market towns or children who appear to possess uncanny extrasensory powers.
—
Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poltergeists
Noun
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Call it fate or family tree, Anna Prillaman was born into the craft and culture of spirits.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
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And getting the word out that everybody needs to watch and celebrate because the show is going to lift your spirits and bring a smile to your face.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
Noun
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Beware the ghosts of IPOs past.—
Greg Bensinger,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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The cellist and guitarist collaborate on a set of relaxed, generous music that conjures ghosts of British folk and Pacific Northwest indie rock.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
2 June 2026
Noun
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The museum site has been a paranormal hotbed for decades, with sightings of apparitions, security camera footage capturing items flying off shelves, as well as experiences from staff members and visitors.—
Gregory Harutunian,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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There certainly seem to be apparitions in this music, some presence apart from the four musicians and the throngs of fans, which is intensified by the visceral collision of so many sounds.—
Stephen M. Deusner,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poltergeists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poltergeists. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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