specter

noun

ˈspek-tər How to pronounce specter (audio)
variants or spectre
Definition of specternext
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 Rates had dipped below 6% in late February, but the onset of the Iran War and the accompanying specter of inflation pushed them higher. — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 The specter of the takeover wasn't apparent on Wednesday morning; the convocation itself was a large-scale pep rally, featuring live music, games, cheering, and dancing, all to boost morale and propel teachers forward. — Lacey Beasley, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 The specter of the aurora borealis appearing during totality in the skies above Iceland and Greenland during totality is getting eclipse chasers excited. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Aug. 2026 The specter of surveillance That’s not the case when the threats run in the opposite direction. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for specter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specter
  1. apparition
  2. ghost
  3. spirit
  4. phantom
Noun
  • That is, until miraculous apparitions turn it into a place to be.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • The music starts to shift beginning with the third episode, when Lestat becomes overwhelmed by the apparition of his abusive maker and other ghosts, including Claudia, whose killing he’d been forced to witness firsthand.
    — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
Definition of apparition
Noun
  • Gradually, Shaban becomes a ghost of himself, in what comes to feel like a natural outcome in a society where a man’s value can be calculated down to the very last cent.
    — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 16 Aug. 2026
  • No manufacturer wants a multimillion-dollar jet sitting on the tarmac awaiting chairs or flying across the Atlantic carrying ghost suites.
    — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of ghost
Noun
  • The mini bar—located inside a gorgeous wooden cabinet—was filled with local spirits like pox, a Mayan liquor made of corn, sugar cane, and wheat, and Mayalen Guerrero mezcal in a bottle so beautiful I was tempted to sneak it back in my suitcase.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Drinkwitz has said Hardy is in good spirits throughout his recovery, even having his son accompany him to rehab.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of spirit
Noun
  • 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
  • The two phantoms were designed to be adult females, since previous research found that breasts and ovaries are especially susceptible to radiation damage.
    — Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of phantom

Browse Nearby Words

spectators
specter
specters
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Cite this Entry

“Specter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specter. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on specter

Nglish: Translation of specter for Spanish Speakers

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