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
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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
Julia Shapero, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
George’s horse spooks and flees; looking up at a ridge, Joe sees Yé’iitsoh.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025
Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2025
In one of this episode’s best scenes, Dame tries to figure out what’s wrong with Nibs, who has been spooked since encountering the scary aliens at the Maginot crash site.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spook
Noun
Technology The Big Story Potential chip tariffs spook tech industry
President Trump’s threats to tariff semiconductors are stoking alarm within the tech sector as companies brace for ripple effects across the industry.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
George’s horse spooks and flees; looking up at a ridge, Joe sees Yé’iitsoh.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
The American dream for Orsted , one of the world’s largest developers of offshore wind farms, appears to have turned into a nightmare, spooking investors and casting a shadow over the renewable energy market.
—Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2025
In one of this episode’s best scenes, Dame tries to figure out what’s wrong with Nibs, who has been spooked since encountering the scary aliens at the Maginot crash site.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spook
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spook
Noun
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The duo plays Emily and Matt, a married pair of ex-CIA spies forced out of retirement and back into the world of espionage after their secret identities are revealed.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Cianfrance supplies a real jerk of a manager in Peter Dinklage’s Mitch, on whom Jeffrey spies by setting up baby monitors in the back office.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Video footage recorded by their owner Macie Lamb shows two pups, Ace and Tango growling at a decorative object that resembles a small ceramic dog wearing a ghost costume while holding a pumpkin in its mouth.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
6 Sep. 2025
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But March’s family, which has seen their factory turned upside down by the ghost of a former employee, rejects the relationship.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Judy Hernandez’ husband Raul, a co-founder of the community group the Resurrection Project, dismissed those plans as a political stunt geared to create fear and frighten Spanish-speaking people.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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Many of us are conditioned to think that our ultimate goal in life is to be with someone, so much so, that the mere thought of being alone frightens us.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The report also detailed how its AI capabilities were being misused by North Korean operatives who used it to obtain remote jobs at tech companies.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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In September 2024, Israel blew up the group’s pagers, causing gruesome injuries as the devices detonated in Hezbollah operatives’ pockets.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Ahead of the 500-year anniversary of the Virgin Mary’s apparition in Tepeyac, Mexico, the sculpture is embarking on a worldwide tour, with visits scheduled to Colombia, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, among other places.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
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In Lockwood’s world, the apparition of a saint is not strictly strange.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Yet, at the same time, automation scares people.—
Arthur Azizov,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Parents, scared by the specter of brain damage, are reluctant to let their kids play tackle football.—
Seth Wickersham,
The Atlantic,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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These cutting agents, including potent synthetic opioids and animal tranquilizers, increase the risk of fatal overdoses.—
David Ferrara,
The Enquirer,
4 Sep. 2025
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The agent also proposes that player power — and agent power — is another leading factor.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But seeing the children in the shelter − along with the Red Cross staff − brightens her spirit.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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But the new film, set in 1986, finds the Warrens dealing with a bunch of personal matters, as well as a Pennsylvania family haunted by a mirror cursed with malevolent spirits.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spook. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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