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
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Recent Examples of spook
Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
George’s horse spooks and flees; looking up at a ridge, Joe sees Yé’iitsoh.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025
Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025
The increasingly circular nature of deals between key AI firms and the emergence of debt financing is also spooking investors, who are quick to draw comparisons to the dot-com bubble.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spook
Noun
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
George’s horse spooks and flees; looking up at a ridge, Joe sees Yé’iitsoh.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
That said, investors could have just been jittery amid the narrative of an apparent AI bubble, and were spooked by any sign of bad news.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025
The increasingly circular nature of deals between key AI firms and the emergence of debt financing is also spooking investors, who are quick to draw comparisons to the dot-com bubble.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spook
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spook
Noun
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On Monday, Iranian state media said a man was arrested in Tehran on suspicion of collaborating with the Israeli spy agency Mossad.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
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The story of Quichotte’s quest is being written, in alternating chapters, by Sam DuChamp, a mid-list spy novelist making his first foray into literary fiction.—
Erin Somers,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The ghosts of a 37-0 shutout to Iowa less than a month ago still lingered — the boos that faded into silence, the homecoming crowd that emptied before the fourth quarter, the scoreboard stuck on humiliation.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Pacino stars as the enigmatic titular figure, described as part muse, part ghost of cinema past.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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These political executions are a callous attempt by the authorities to frighten and silence an increasingly restive population no longer willing to accept their corrupt and oppressive rule.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Tens of millions of dollars have been spent to redefine reality and to convince our neighbors that this new age is something that should frighten them.—
TIME Video,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Cuban operatives played a central role in shaping how the regime monitored dissent and protected senior leadership, embedding themselves inside Venezuela’s intelligence services.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
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Alexis Rodríguez Cabello A Venezuelan politician and longtime Chavista operative best known for his family and political ties to Diosdado Cabello, Alexis Rodríguez Cabello is currently head of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Sam slips back into her addiction and as her alcoholism worsens, so do the visions and apparitions that seem to be haunting the forest.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
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One of the most stunning exhibitions of the year put the spotlight on Our Lady of Guadalupe, which has a long history dating back to 1531, tied to four apparitions of the Virgin Mary to a peasant in Mexico.—
Michael James Rocha,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
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After scaring off the animal, one of the hikers, a physician, attempted to revive Kovatch, but did not find a pulse.—
Outside,
Outside,
6 Jan. 2026
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Don’t let the tackiness of this primer scare you.—
Michelle Baricevic,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Good was seen in multiple videos reversing her Honda Pilot as ICE agents attempted to open her car door, then moving forward and to the right when the agent opened fire, first through the windshield and then twice through the vehicle's open window, killing the mother of three from Colorado.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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On he west side of 35W, agents formed a line along the Lake Street corridor.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Despite its name, the bar operates as a globally minded cocktail destination with equal attention paid to other spirits, along with small bites and an impressive cigar selection.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Jan. 2026
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What’s unique about Tasovská’s approach is that the entire film is composed of Jarcovjáková’s photographs, infusing her artistic spirit into every frame.—
Matt Minton,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spook. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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