variants
or spectres
as in apparitions
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
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Recent Examples of specters
Ever the sassy songwriter, Musgraves handles these specters like a pro with witty write-offs.
—
Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2026
Skeletal specters emerge as a consequence of tampering with such dark magic, and one launches itself at McAdams' Christine Palmer.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
San Francisco’s iconic fog also contributes to optical effects, like fog bows and brocken spectres, which are rainbows around a viewer’s shadow.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Jan. 2026
The Duffers have always worn their influences with pride, and the specters of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King helped jump-start the series into a phenomenon.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
The ground of the cemetery opens up beneath them, and specters rise into the air.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
As Calhoun summarizes, the first part takes up the subject of magic and necromancy, the second treats of witchcraft and sorcery, and the third discourses of all kinds of spirits and specters.
—Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025
Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2026
Skeletal specters emerge as a consequence of tampering with such dark magic, and one launches itself at McAdams' Christine Palmer.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
San Francisco’s iconic fog also contributes to optical effects, like fog bows and brocken spectres, which are rainbows around a viewer’s shadow.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Jan. 2026
The Duffers have always worn their influences with pride, and the specters of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King helped jump-start the series into a phenomenon.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
The ground of the cemetery opens up beneath them, and specters rise into the air.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
As Calhoun summarizes, the first part takes up the subject of magic and necromancy, the second treats of witchcraft and sorcery, and the third discourses of all kinds of spirits and specters.
—Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specters
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
Noun
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Vitello said postgame that Koss’ helmet cracked as a result of the bean ball, but Koss was in good spirits after the game.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
10 May 2026
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Right now, spirits are high because the overall box office is trending 16% ahead of last year, according to Comscore.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
10 May 2026
Noun
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Whatever the reason, the rest of the day, ghosts of my former selves appeared around every sandy corner.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
-
As lawmakers consider helping the Bears build a new stadium, the ghosts of past stadium deals still haunt the present.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Noun
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Jules’ colorful shadows - Season 1, Episode 5 One of the most artistic makeup looks from season 1, Jules’ (Hunter Schafer) colorful eyelids look a bit like an abstract painting.—
Hannah Kerns,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
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Hong Kong — China’s top spy agency has come out of the shadows to warn that its young people are being duped by foreign forces into shirking hard work and prioritizing their individual emotions at the expense of national development.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Such a designation, evidently, would save agents from wasting time chasing phantoms.—
Adam Ciralsky,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
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Just in time for Halloween, the sonic phantoms that have long plagued the ladies of The View have seemingly possessed inanimate objects over on the Live With Kelly and Mark set.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Specters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specters. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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