as in ghost
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people
we thought a poltergeist was knocking dishes off the shelves, but it turned out to just be vibrations from passing trains
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of poltergeist
Does a person accept, say, poltergeists, but not extrasensory perception?
—
Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
Or might the brook be angry, like a poltergeist deranged by degradation, indignity, and concealment?
—Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 30 Oct. 2024
For all of movie history’s great what-if casting coulda-beens, Beetlejuice might have the best of all of them: Burton wanted Sammy Davis Jr. to play the titular poltergeist.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2024
In Louisville, they are regaled with tales of poltergeists like The Lady in Blue at the old Seelbach Hotel, once frequented by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Al Capone.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for poltergeist
Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
Or might the brook be angry, like a poltergeist deranged by degradation, indignity, and concealment?
—Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 30 Oct. 2024
For all of movie history’s great what-if casting coulda-beens, Beetlejuice might have the best of all of them: Burton wanted Sammy Davis Jr. to play the titular poltergeist.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2024
In Louisville, they are regaled with tales of poltergeists like The Lady in Blue at the old Seelbach Hotel, once frequented by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Al Capone.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for poltergeist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poltergeist
Noun
-
Except he’s lured there in the dead of winter, presumably called once more by the ghosts of children killed by violence in years past.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Rather, the singer-songwriter was inspired to write the song after reading author Mary Bartlet Leader’s 1972 novel Triad: A Novel of the Supernatural, which featured a character who is possessed by the ghost of a witch named Rhiannon.—
John Russell,
People.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Todd, the neighbor, even the strange apparitions are obfuscated simply because of their height, which adds to the eerieness of Indy’s experience but also makes Indy’s recognition of Todd’s voice all the more emotional.—
Rafael Motamayor,
IndieWire,
10 Mar. 2025
-
In the writer-director’s latest horror flick, The Monkey, there is no malignant apparition, and death doesn’t lurk or stalk.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Opened in July 2024, India’s second Raffles location makes a dramatic first impression, which perfectly captures the spirit of this city known for its ornate palaces and forts.—
Jennifer Flowers,
AFAR Media,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Afternoon Tea highlighting the spirit of Thailand is available at hotels in Bangkok, London at Park Lane and Singapore.—
Elycia Rubin,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
To combat such phantoms, Georgian Dream has passed new legislation that criminalizes assembly and protest.—
Anastasiya Zavyalova,
The Conversation,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Kevin Willard’s team had to confront the phantom that had haunted it through a quartet of Big Ten heartbreakers.—
Childs Walker,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poltergeist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poltergeist. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share