the specter of (something)

idiom

: a notion or fear of something bad that might happen in the future
a nation alarmed/haunted by the specter of famine/war
News of the disease raised the specter of a possible plague.

Examples of the specter of (something) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Failing that, the only restraint on Trump is the specter of a collapse of Ukraine playing out similarly to the way the American withdrawal from Afghanistan damaged perception of the Biden administration. Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025 As the specter of U.S. tariffs loomed at the start of the year, Chinese toy manufacturers in Yiwu city, a manufacturing hub, rushed to redesign Santa Claus figurines with rounder faces and blue eyes in hopes of appealing more to European consumers. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 29 May 2025 That money would enable Europe to support Ukraine for years to come, with few domestic political costs, the specter of which could help bring Putin to the negotiating table. Wally Adeyemo, Foreign Affairs, 21 May 2025 More than anything, though, the specter of Joel Embiid’s health hangs over this organization like a festering wound. Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for the specter of (something)

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The specter of (something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20specter%20of%20%28something%29. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!