Synonyms of spook

spook 1 of 2

noun

ˈspük 

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

• spy
• operative
• agent
• mole
• undercover
• undercover agent
• secret agent
• asset
• emissary
• informer
• intelligencer
• sleeper
• courier
• double agent
• counterspy
• stool pigeon
• infiltrator
• spymaster
• superspy

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

• ghost
• apparition
• spirit
• haunt
• phantom
• specter
• poltergeist
• wraith
• vampire
• shadow
• phantasm
• zombie
• demon
• bogey
• visitant
• vision
• sprite
• materialization
• familiar spirit
• hant
• angel
• ghoul
• familiar
• shade
• double
• fetch
• daimon
• genie
• doppelgänger
• genius
• incubus
• shaitan
• imp
• manes
• devil
• succubus
• jinni
• lemures
• lamia
• cacodemon
• fiend

spook

2 of 2

verb

as in to frighten

to strike with fear

the sudden noise spooked her out of her skin

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frighten
• scare
• terrify
• startle
• terrorize
• fright
• panic
• horrify
• shock
• shake
• alarm
• scarify
• affright
• worry
• distract
• give one the creeps
• amaze
• appall
• make one's flesh creep
• shake up
• disturb
• jolt
• unnerve
• astound
• unsettle
• awe
• daunt
• dismay
• distress
• dispirit
• disconcert
• emasculate
• bowl over
• floor
• perturb
• discomfort
• upset
• disquiet
• psych (out)
• demoralize
• unman
• chill
• discompose
• unstring
• undo

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassure
• assure
• cheer
• comfort
• soothe
• encourage
• console
• steel
• inspire
• solace
• embolden
• hearten

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spook

Noun

The market got a spook earlier this year because private credit funds have lent heavily to the software industry — under threat from AI — and many investors sought to cash out funds. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 15 Apr. 2026

Remember that movement spooks turkeys more than anything else. — Bruce Brady, Outdoor Life, 8 Apr. 2026

Verb

In that section, gruesome murders have spooked what few locals there are, and the boy, Caleb (Atticus Affleck), has a shifty, older-than-his years air about him that makes farmer Emmett (Scoot McNairy) quite unsettled. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

Despite having some experience, including one start last year, Vizzina looked spooked against LSU’s pass rush. — Seth Emerson, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026