the specter of (something)
idiom
: a notion or fear of something bad that might happen in the future
a nation alarmed/haunted by the specter of famine/war
News of the disease raised the specter of a possible plague.
Examples of the specter of (something) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The tariff − the highest U.S. tariff on any country − is raising the specter of steep price hikes on goods imported from China.
—
Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
The rates Trump announced increase U.S. import taxes on foreign goods to levels not seen since World War II, and raised the specter of a global trade war.
—Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025
Adding another complication is the specter of President Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on passenger cars, light trucks, and auto parts imported to the U.S.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2025
The narrative is grounded in the specter of death, in ways that can be a tad on-the-nose.
—Luke Winkie, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the specter of (something)
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Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
The rates Trump announced increase U.S. import taxes on foreign goods to levels not seen since World War II, and raised the specter of a global trade war.
—Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025
Adding another complication is the specter of President Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on passenger cars, light trucks, and auto parts imported to the U.S.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2025
The narrative is grounded in the specter of death, in ways that can be a tad on-the-nose.
—Luke Winkie, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the specter of (something)
Cite this Entry
“The specter of (something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20specter%20of%20%28something%29. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
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