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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poltergeist
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
Lamorne Morris is a lovesick poltergeist in Ghosts first-look photos
08 of 20
House of the Dragon (2022–present)
Thankfully, Game of Thrones fans didn't have to wait long for another trip to Westeros.
—EW.com, 30 Sep. 2024
In 1548, Johannes Gast wrote about a Faust who had played tricks on a group of monks by introducing a poltergeist into the monastery.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for 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
Lamorne Morris is a lovesick poltergeist in Ghosts first-look photos
08 of 20
House of the Dragon (2022–present)
Thankfully, Game of Thrones fans didn't have to wait long for another trip to Westeros.
—EW.com, 30 Sep. 2024
In 1548, Johannes Gast wrote about a Faust who had played tricks on a group of monks by introducing a poltergeist into the monastery.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for poltergeist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poltergeist
Noun
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Statham, who in the film will play a man pulled back towards the ghosts of his violent past, is currently reteaming with David Ayer on action-thriller A Working Man, and recently wrapped production on Mutiny with Jean-Francois Richet for Mad River.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
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Barcelona have previously criticised the current VAR system and asked for audios themselves when a potential ghost goal by winger Lamine Yamal was not given in an April 2024 Clasico which Madrid won 3-2.—
Dermot Corrigan,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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An iconic apex predator appeared through thick fog like an apparition and cautiously watched a photographer in Yellowstone National Park, stunning video shows.—
Brooke Baitinger,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Feb. 2025
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Narrow beams of sunlight illuminate the torched frame of a single chair – like an apparition of the torturer who once stood there.—
Scott Peterson,
The Christian Science Monitor,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
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So 7,500 of the books went to the Concord Library, and there’s this room now there that helped to buoy my spirits, knowing that was happening.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2025
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This game embodies the spirit of what makes Obsidian games special, and a chance to prove that the studio is one of the most prolific RPG houses in the industry, whose own original creations can stand above even their stellar work making sequels for others.—
Hayes Madsen,
Rolling Stone,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The results showed clear differences in signal quality: The phantom simulating dry skin had a lower signal-to-noise ratio, while the hydrated skin phantom showed better signal clarity.—
Krittika Goyal,
The Conversation,
29 Jan. 2025
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But some analysts are worried investors might be cheering a mere phantom.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near poltergeist
Cite this Entry
“Poltergeist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poltergeist. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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