specter

noun

ˈspek-tər How to pronounce specter (audio)
variants or spectre
Definition of specternext
as in apparition
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

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.
Recent Examples of specter Still, the specter of AI agents operating freely on the internet raises alarming possibilities, regardless of their objectives. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 Nearly 40 public elementary schools in Orange County now enroll fewer students than needed to be financially stable, raising the specter of more school closings in a district that shuttered seven campuses in May. — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026 But the Ioniq 5’s biggest problem is the potential specter of an Integrated Charging Controller Unit failure. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2026 She’s rattled by hearing his name again, which, among other things, raises the specter of her alcoholism. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for specter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specter
  1. apparition
  2. ghost
  3. spirit
  4. phantom
Noun
  • For evening observers, this apparition has been more frustrating than triumphant, with Venus lingering low in the glow of twilight instead of climbing into a commanding position.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • One minute, the stubble field in front of his stand had been empty, and then suddenly, like an apparition, a whitetail buck had appeared.
    — Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of apparition
Noun
  • As life moves on, ghosts remain The suit against Fox filed by Zakrzewski's widow, Michelle Ross-Stanton, is still winding its way through the British legal system.
    — David Folkenflik, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Swift appears as the ghost of Farrell’s former wife, warning Johnson about her husband and revealing the dark truth behind his past.
    — Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of ghost
Noun
  • Riffing on the spirit of COMO Shambhala, yoga and wellbeing is a huge focus here; an open-air pavilion hosts different sessions and therapies.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The family described the teen as a fearless, curious and deeply imaginative young man with an ambitious spirit who inspired those around him.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of spirit
Noun
  • Fadal brought up her own phantom smells during a recent podcast conversation with Andrea Donsky, a nutritionist who’s written about and conducted research on this symptom.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Both phantoms were packed with thousands of dosimeters, tracking radiation dose over specific phases of the flight rather than just a cumulative total.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of phantom

Browse Nearby Words

spectators
specter
specters
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Cite this Entry

“Specter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specter. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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