1
as in spy
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country
Russia recalled its spooks after the collapse of the Soviet Union
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in ghost
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people
Halloween is the night when spooks and goblins are said to roam abroad
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to frighten
to strike with fear
the sudden noise spooked her out of her skin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of spook
Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield are iconic characters that are wonderfully resurrected in this remake, the spooks are top notch, and the whole thing looks, sounds, and plays unbelievably.
—Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
James Folta, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
That’s all fine with Wall Street, since the part that really had investors spooked was the paper’s prediction that this would also dry up consumer spending, cause a global stock sell-off, and collapse even dependable money-makers like the S&P 500.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spook
Noun
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
Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield are iconic characters that are wonderfully resurrected in this remake, the spooks are top notch, and the whole thing looks, sounds, and plays unbelievably.
—Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
The piece in Vox points out some issues with Citrini’s predictions—all the money pumped into AI has to pay at least a few salaries, maybe this time the government will regulate something—but the story is plausible enough to have really spooked a noticeable chunk of the tech industry.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
That’s all fine with Wall Street, since the part that really had investors spooked was the paper’s prediction that this would also dry up consumer spending, cause a global stock sell-off, and collapse even dependable money-makers like the S&P 500.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spook
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spook
Noun
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According to our spy photographer, these are indeed a Maserati Gran Cabrio Folgore and Gran Turismo Trofeo as their respective exterior treatments imply.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
5 Mar. 2026
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The English actor was a relatively unknown commodity on this side of the pond but became a brilliant revelation for his role in the Cold War thriller as a quiet, older Brooklyn man arrested for being a Soviet spy.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Paramount+ series, which follows a group of ghosts stuck in purgatory inside their high school, uses its premise — characters tethered to different decades — as both a narrative engine and a musical one.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
5 Mar. 2026
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However, the gap to Arsenal is back up to seven points, below, and in trying eradicate it, City are chasing a ghost.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His dribbling, direct running style and finishing frighten defenders and light up the biggest stages.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
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The piercing sunlight frightens her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Using a special encryption code, the operatives could translate the numerals into a readable message.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Republican operatives have pointed to Kim’s lukewarm support of the president in previous years.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Mercury puts on its best evening apparition of 2025 for Northern Hemisphere observers during these two weeks.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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As the 14-year-old child of a poor family in 1858, Saint Bernadette experienced numerous apparitions of a young woman in a cave or grotto, seemingly the Virgin Mary, asking for a chapel to be built on the site.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That term definitely scared off some other teams.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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Among them is an allegation that Live Nation threatens to retaliate against venues that work with rivals, allegedly scaring those venues into complying.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The partnership formed only after Wimbledon, arranged through Tien’s agent, despite the two having lived in the same Southern California tennis orbit for years without ever meeting.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Bruising drops in software company stocks this year have left investors struggling to discern which firms will be least and most affected by competition from AI agents.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This all-day, rain-or-shine celebration will be overflowing with live entertainment, festive food, family fun and plenty of Irish spirit, including special offerings from Guinness and Jameson, who will be onsite with festive surprises.—
Laura Ness,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Older and younger kids can play together, fostering a spirit of collaboration.—
Stephanie Ganz,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spook. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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