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
Relevance
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
Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
When a truck backfires on the street outside her office, a colleague is spooked, but Ziva stays perfectly calm — a moment that gains added importance soon enough.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Sep. 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
Unleashed dogs chase River, horseback riders spook him and gunshots send him running when hunting season starts in the fall.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
When a truck backfires on the street outside her office, a colleague is spooked, but Ziva stays perfectly calm — a moment that gains added importance soon enough.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spook
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spook
Noun
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This is mostly an over-the-top spy thriller with wild shootouts, great suspense and some really intense action, but this scene took it to another level entirely.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Padrino accused Washington of sharply intensifying aerial surveillance of Venezuela, citing a surge in spy flights last month.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The bright orange bucket, sporting Home Depot's logo, features jack-o'-lanterns, bats, ghosts, spiders and spiderwebs.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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The ghosts of the Federal Theatre still haunt the 102-year-old movie house, and David Lindoerfer has seen them.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
12 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
-
Israeli airstrikes on Doha that killed Hamas operatives have intensified regional drama and prompted emergency meetings of Arab and Islamic leaders in the Qatari capital on September 14.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Sep. 2025
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Jayson is not entirely thrilled that two of his operatives are dead and their child, Sam, is missing.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Zoo will be joined by a second new maze based on the Bloody Mary apparition who can be summoned by anyone who turns out the lights and says her name into a mirror three times.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
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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
Verb
-
Just enough time to snap some selfies and scare your housemates.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Their offense, outside their all-world quarterback, doesn’t scare anybody, not without Rashee Rice (suspension) and Xavier Worthy (injury), and with Travis Kelce in Year 13.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In a video taken by a security camera at his mother's driveway, obtained by ABC News, a federal agent can be heard asking Gamez Lira to turn off the engine and to not resist.—
Armando Garcia,
ABC News,
18 Sep. 2025
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The Blackhawks and Kaiser’s agent had been negotiating for some time this offseason, but neither side had been in a rush, with the 23-year-old Kaiser having no arbitration rights.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli were joined in spirit by Carrie Ann Inaba, who missed the premiere due to illness.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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In the spirit of functionality and the chair’s utilitarian history, brass buckles secure both the leather back and seat.—
Elissa Suh,
Architectural Digest,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spook. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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