variants
or spectre
as in haunt
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
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 specter
The 2024 prize went to Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots Japanese organization of atomic bomb survivors, at a time when the world was once again confronting the specter of nuclear weapons, amid Russia’s threats during its war in Ukraine.
—
Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025
The specter of elimination, of the danger and finality of any mistake, hung over everything at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday.
—Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Opposing Farage’s proposal, however, leaves open the specter of privatization, which many say has been creeping up even before the Health and Social Care Act 2012 opened up the NHS to bids from private contractors.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2025
Satellite imagery, Pentagon releases, and ship tracking reports reveal stealth jets, Marines, and naval vessels poised across Puerto Rico and the eastern Caribbean, raising the specter of escalating tensions that some say could be the opening moves of a broader confrontation.
—John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for specter
Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025
The specter of elimination, of the danger and finality of any mistake, hung over everything at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday.
—Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Opposing Farage’s proposal, however, leaves open the specter of privatization, which many say has been creeping up even before the Health and Social Care Act 2012 opened up the NHS to bids from private contractors.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2025
Satellite imagery, Pentagon releases, and ship tracking reports reveal stealth jets, Marines, and naval vessels poised across Puerto Rico and the eastern Caribbean, raising the specter of escalating tensions that some say could be the opening moves of a broader confrontation.
—John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for specter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specter
Noun
-
My colleague Patrick Ryan traveled to the Boss' old haunt in Asbury Park, The Stone Pony, to talk with both Jeremys in a must-read interview.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Cooper visualizes Springsteen’s emotional and creative churn through black-and-white childhood flashbacks, and scenes of him driving around his old haunts in a muscle car, as well as tender montages of Bruce and Faye playing with her daughter at the boardwalk.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
The morning light casts jagged shadows across the pink stone, catching the saguaro spines and illuminating them like desert saints.—
Rowan Jacobsen,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
While dance music vocalists often live in the shadows of the scene, her goal is to put herself, her voice, her personality and her stories at the fore.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
On his journey, Geralt slices up several soldiers, a giant, ogre-like creature and a ghostly wraith.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
7 Oct. 2025
-
In the footage, Geralt approaches the domain of a wraith and battles the skeletal specter, culminating in a heart-ripping moment.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
But many parts of the United States will be rain-free for the spook-tacular holiday, including the Southwest and much of the Rockies, according to The Weather Channel.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
-
There will be trick-or-treating, costume contests, spook-tacular inflatables, Halloween crafts and vendor booths to connect with families with community resources.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
These days, Maurice is said to appear as an apparition on the 14th floor.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Specter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specter. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share