Thesaurus results for SPECTER

specter

noun

ˈspek-tər

variants or spectre

Definition of specter

as in apparition

the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people feeling so terrified that every shadow became a specter

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 specter This conclusion drives home that Chris will never be able to fully vanquish evil; he’ll be stuck in a loop, eternally pursuing this specter. — Samantha Bergeson, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026 The riotous 640-page doorstopper grapples with homophobia then and now, the lingering specter of colonialism, the tumult of the AIDS crisis, and frameworks of power that demand dominance or submission. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026 Still, the specter of AI agents operating freely on the internet raises alarming possibilities, regardless of their objectives. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 Nearly 40 public elementary schools in Orange County now enroll fewer students than needed to be financially stable, raising the specter of more school closings in a district that shuttered seven campuses in May. — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for specter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for specter

Noun

One is Eye Witness (1987), a wintry landscape of two figures who seem to look away from an apparition of sorts; a skyscraper in the distance bears a resemblance to the Empire State Building.

— Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
For evening observers, this apparition has been more frustrating than triumphant, with Venus lingering low in the glow of twilight instead of climbing into a commanding position.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of apparition

Noun

Shoes also embraced a more playful and expressive spirit, with jewels, bows, flowers, bold prints and vibrant colors.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Spending time together brings out their humor and fighting spirit, alongside emotional stories and traditions passed down through generations.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of spirit

Noun

Fadal brought up her own phantom smells during a recent podcast conversation with Andrea Donsky, a nutritionist who’s written about and conducted research on this symptom.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 26 Aug. 2026
Both phantoms were packed with thousands of dosimeters, tracking radiation dose over specific phases of the flight rather than just a cumulative total.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of phantom

Browse Nearby Words

spectators

specter

specters

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Style

“Specter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specter. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of specter

noun

Example Sentences

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