Synonyms for

Ghost

Verb / gəʊst / Another word for ghost — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

A ghost is the spirit of a dead person that some people believe appears to the living.

Synonyms & similar words

wraith ghostwriter shade spectre ghostwrite trace obsess specter touch haunt spook phantom apparition specter spirit wraith shade spook phantasm haint bogeyman bogle haunt poltergeist soul zombie ghoul demon devil monster creature

Synonyms by register

Formal

specter apparition phantom

Informal

spook haunt

Literary

shade wraith spirit

Antonyms

living corporeal material physical tangible earthly

Common collocations

  • ghost story
  • ghost town
  • ghost ship
  • ghost writer
  • ghost in the machine
  • see a ghost
  • like a ghost

Word family

noun ghost
verb ghost
adjective ghostly

Usage note

While 'ghost' can refer to a spirit, it's also commonly used informally to mean to abruptly end communication with someone. The verb form 'to ghost' is a recent slang development.

Example sentences

  1. I don't believe in ghosts.
  2. The Halloween decoration showed a ghost.
  3. I dressed up as a ghost for Halloween.
  4. The ghostly figure scared me.
  5. The ghost of his past haunted him.

Quotes

  • The ghost was one of the most enduring images in cinema history.
  • I don't believe in ghosts, but I am afraid of them.
  • Ghosts don't haunt us. That's not how it works. They're present among us because we won't let go of them.

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