Synonyms for

Ghosts

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

Definition

Ghosts are the spirits of dead people that some people believe can be seen or felt.

Synonyms & similar words

wraith ghostwriter shade spectre ghostwrite ghost trace obsess specter touch haunt spook specters apparitions phantoms spirits wraiths shades spooks haunts phantasmata haints banshees poltergeists shadows phantasmagoria hallucinations visions fantasms whispers whistlings moans

Synonyms by register

Formal

specter apparition phantom shade

Informal

spook haunt wraith

Literary

eidolon phantasm spirit

Antonyms

living corporeal material physical tangible real substantial

Common collocations

  • haunted by ghosts
  • ghosts of the past
  • see ghosts
  • ghosts appeared
  • ghosts whispered
  • ghosts roamed
  • ghosts were seen

Word family

noun ghost
verb ghost

Usage note

While 'ghost' can refer to the spirit of a dead person, it is also used metaphorically for lingering influences or memories. The verb 'to ghost' means to abruptly cease all communication with someone.

Example sentences

  1. The ghosts in the story scared me.
  2. My little brother thinks he saw a ghost in his room.
  3. Some people believe in ghosts, while others do not.
  4. Ghosts are often portrayed in movies as white sheets with two holes for eyes.
  5. I wouldn't want to live in a haunted house with ghosts.

Quotes

  • Ghosts don't haunt us. That's not how it works. They're present among us because we won't let go of them.
  • When a man dies, his ghost returns home where he died.
  • Ghosts are real and they live inside us, and sometimes, they win.

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