variants
or spectre
as in haunt
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people
feeling so terrified that every shadow became a specter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of specter
The specter of a Department of Health and Human Services helmed by vaccine denier in chief RFK Jr. does not give us much hope for a system committed to safeguarding us.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2025
Trump’s order includes a mechanism to escalate the rates charged by the U.S. against retaliation by the other countries, raising the specter of an even more severe economic disruption.
—Christopher Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2025
The underlying heartbreak of Oakland losing the A’s, the empty Coliseum next door and the specter of moves to Sacramento and Las Vegas was for the most part kept in the background.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2025
Putin and various Russian officials have frequently raised the specter of nuclear escalation.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for specter 
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2025
Trump’s order includes a mechanism to escalate the rates charged by the U.S. against retaliation by the other countries, raising the specter of an even more severe economic disruption.
—Christopher Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2025
The underlying heartbreak of Oakland losing the A’s, the empty Coliseum next door and the specter of moves to Sacramento and Las Vegas was for the most part kept in the background.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2025
Putin and various Russian officials have frequently raised the specter of nuclear escalation.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for specter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specter
Noun
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Two other Denver haunts made Yelp’s list: Steakhouse Guard and Grace (1801 California St.) came in at No. 23, followed by Sushi Den (1487 S. Pearl St.) at No. 64.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
The Denver Post,
30 Jan. 2025
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So, there’s little wonder that while many of his Gen Z musical contemporaries followed the bedroom TikTok-to-hit performer pathway, Myers’ roots extend back to the vaunted singer-songwriter haunts of Austin.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Statham, who in the film will play a man pulled back towards the ghosts of his violent past, is currently reteaming with David Ayer on action-thriller A Working Man, and recently wrapped production on Mutiny with Jean-Francois Richet for Mad River.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
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Barcelona have previously criticised the current VAR system and asked for audios themselves when a potential ghost goal by winger Lamine Yamal was not given in an April 2024 Clasico which Madrid won 3-2.—
Dermot Corrigan,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This effect happens because Earth's atmosphere scatters shorter wavelengths of light from the sun while allowing longer wavelengths of red and orange hues to be refracted into Earth's umbra (the darkest part of Earth's shadow).—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
13 Feb. 2025
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Sam attempts to define his version of Captain America, while fighting to exonerate his friend, all while Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) pulls the strings from the shadows — with the ultimate aim of revenge on Ross for broken promises.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Agatha is also being pursued by her ex, Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza), a powerful green witch, as well as the Salem Seven, vengeful wraiths of Agatha's first coven.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
24 Dec. 2024
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Many slide hopelessly back into lives as nearly invisible wraiths, measured in the intervals between fixes — and arrests.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
Orlando Sentinel,
16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The results showed clear differences in signal quality: The phantom simulating dry skin had a lower signal-to-noise ratio, while the hydrated skin phantom showed better signal clarity.—
Krittika Goyal,
The Conversation,
29 Jan. 2025
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But some analysts are worried investors might be cheering a mere phantom.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Brandon and his cohorts are essentially white-collar espionage spooks, trafficking in all-in-a-day’s-work deceit punctuated by violence.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
30 Dec. 2024
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But that didn’t stop Joe Barton, creator of Black Doves, the Netflix Christmas spy thriller now streaming, from encumbering star Keira Knightley as dedicated wife and professional spook Helen Webb with Ben Whishaw‘s Sam Young, a fellow spy and assassin, in all matters of love and relationships.—
Etan Vlessing,
The Hollywood Reporter,
6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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An iconic apex predator appeared through thick fog like an apparition and cautiously watched a photographer in Yellowstone National Park, stunning video shows.—
Brooke Baitinger,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Feb. 2025
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Narrow beams of sunlight illuminate the torched frame of a single chair – like an apparition of the torturer who once stood there.—
Scott Peterson,
The Christian Science Monitor,
31 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near specter
Cite this Entry
“Specter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specter. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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