as in ghost
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people
we thought a poltergeist was knocking dishes off the shelves, but it turned out to just be vibrations from passing trains
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Recent Examples of poltergeist
Enraged, the spirit goes upstairs to his room and begins to cause poltergeist activity like breaking shelves, throwing objects and tearing down posters.
—
Keith Langston, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025
The vocals are ghastly, like poltergeists speaking from the beyond, trying to convey some hazy message the mortals can’t decipher.
—Aaron Gilbreath, SPIN, 31 Dec. 2024
Does a person accept, say, poltergeists, but not extrasensory perception?
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
The poltergeist feature from director Craig Johnson (The Skeleton Twins) is set to begin streaming via Max on March 13.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for poltergeist
Keith Langston, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025
The vocals are ghastly, like poltergeists speaking from the beyond, trying to convey some hazy message the mortals can’t decipher.
—Aaron Gilbreath, SPIN, 31 Dec. 2024
Does a person accept, say, poltergeists, but not extrasensory perception?
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
The poltergeist feature from director Craig Johnson (The Skeleton Twins) is set to begin streaming via Max on March 13.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for poltergeist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poltergeist
Noun
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Think disco ball ghosts, skeletons lounging poolside, and heart-eyed skulls that belong on your gallery wall and your feed.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 June 2025
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Just a ghost in the RAM, stealing data or encrypting files until the system reboots.—
Camellia Chan,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Noun
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The series, originally from Monumental Television for the BBC in the UK, follows a young couple inherit a huge castle, only to find one of them can communicate with the various apparitions from history who already live there.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
3 June 2025
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The listing appeared suddenly, like an apparition from the era when Yoshi’s reigned as the Bay Area’s premiere jazz venue.—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Rush, who held degrees from Princeton University and the University of California, Berkeley, had an adventurous spirit, per his obituary in the New York Times.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
13 June 2025
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Feminine elements such as florals, draping, and oversized fans nod to the artistry of couture, keeping the spirit of Balmain both rooted in tradition and forward-looking in its vision.—
Essence,
Essence,
13 June 2025
Noun
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But does Chuck let this phantom haunt him into adulthood?—
Ashley Boucher,
EW.com,
7 June 2025
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Ray is an enigma and a mystery, a man who zips into town on a motorbike like a phantom and could just as easily evaporate at any minute.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poltergeist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poltergeist. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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