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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of spook
Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
There will be trick-or-treating, costume contests, spook-tacular inflatables, Halloween crafts and vendor booths to connect with families with community resources.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
Robert Frank, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
One downtown restaurant reported a 70% revenue drop after customers were spooked by the National Guard presence at an adjacent hotel.
—Cleve R. Wootson Jr. The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spook
Noun
But many parts of the United States will be rain-free for the spook-tacular holiday, including the Southwest and much of the Rockies, according to The Weather Channel.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
There will be trick-or-treating, costume contests, spook-tacular inflatables, Halloween crafts and vendor booths to connect with families with community resources.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
At the same time, wealthy consumers could be spooked by volatile stock markets.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
One downtown restaurant reported a 70% revenue drop after customers were spooked by the National Guard presence at an adjacent hotel.
—Cleve R. Wootson Jr. The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spook
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spook
Noun
-
The film, which debuted on Netflix April 1, deploys a deliberately eccentric tone, mixing slapstick, satire and spy-thriller tropes with Das’ irreverent comedic sensibility.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
-
When spy satellites first captured images of the Zitong network in 1971, US intelligence deemed the sites a gamechanger.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That’s news to the ghost of President Lyndon Johnson and the still-communist capital of Hanoi.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Until that happens, the ghost bikes will remain — stark, silent reminders of lives cut short and a call for safer streets.—
Alexa Liacko,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some frighten people, while others delight them.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The marsupial escaped from Sunshine Farm in Necedah, a village about 90 miles away from Madison, on March 25, after being frightened by barking dogs, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The man who crashed an explosive-laden truck into a Michigan synagogue where scores of children were at daycare acted as an operative of Hezbollah, the foreign terrorist organization based in Lebanon, federal officials said March 30.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
An operative would normally plan to walk alone to a hotel room to avoid being seen with an asset.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Acosta’s bright shapes could be seen as apparitions of a sort.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
-
For example, the apparition of his first wife, Grace Shelby (Annabelle Wallis), appeared a handful times in season five.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bossche says the encounter with the rattler hasn't scared her off the trails for good.—
Jasmine Viel,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
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The outlet reported that, in the other scenario, guides and hotel staff, according to the CIB probe, have been coached to scare trekkers at high altitude, where altitude sickness can occur.—
Alex Nitzberg,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Wise served as an FBI agent and a supervisory agent from 2004 to 2017.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The task force, consisting of county detectives and FBI agents, is separate from the initial homicide squad assigned to the case.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Of course, there was also John Ashbery, a presiding spirit in his body of work.—
Giles Harvey,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
For travelers with an adventurous spirit, Costa Rica’s South Pacific is a dream come true.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spook. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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