as in haunting
of, relating to, or suggestive of a ghost
They spotted a spectral figure in the window of the old abandoned house.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 spectral
Its multispectral imager is designed to detect different wavelengths of light, as the spectral signatures from light that reflects off 16 Psyche can be used to learn about the asteroid's composition.
—
Andrew Jones, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2025
With his deathly pallor and Byronic charm, Stamp was perfect as the self-destructive, swaggering scoundrel who is haunted by visions of a spectral little girl.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
One instance sees a ghastly spectral soldier filling a stream with all the lost souls of the enemies the player has killed so far, but the battle itself is just a slow walk to the end that’s exhausting to trudge through.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
With a wingspan of up to three feet and a taste for rodents, insects, and even other bats, spectral bats are the largest carnivorous bats in the world.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spectral
Andrew Jones, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2025
With his deathly pallor and Byronic charm, Stamp was perfect as the self-destructive, swaggering scoundrel who is haunted by visions of a spectral little girl.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
One instance sees a ghastly spectral soldier filling a stream with all the lost souls of the enemies the player has killed so far, but the battle itself is just a slow walk to the end that’s exhausting to trudge through.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
With a wingspan of up to three feet and a taste for rodents, insects, and even other bats, spectral bats are the largest carnivorous bats in the world.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spectral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spectral
Adjective
-
Flash forward to Kubrick’s haunting final act when astronaut Dave Bowman is ensconced, spacesuit in tow, in a bizarre, futuristic rococo hotel suite.—
Bruce Dorminey,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
During the eight-day cruise, guests will visit the terra-cotta temples in Kalna, the Nawabi palaces of Murshidabad, the Mughal gardens of Khushbagh, the haunting ruins of Gaur, and Mayapur’s sprawling Hare Krishna complex.—
Bailey Berg,
AFAR Media,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Wax Child is an eerie, unsettling book about a group of women who have apparently been possessed and empowered by a tall and headless Devil.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Uckotter’s eerie depictions of attics, slip dresses, and toys calls to mind the cinematic worlds created by David Lynch.—
Grace Byron,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This whodunnit opens like an old-school murder mystery, with a rich family, a big creepy house and a dead patriarch.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
While this year’s theme has not yet been announced, last year’s iteration was creepy circus-themed.—
Charlie Vargas,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Presumably, all of Moore's clients were audited, had these phantom losses disallowed, and ended up paying the harsh 40% penalty for lack of economic substance.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Hutch is a phantom presence around the Mansell household at best.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Trillions of ghostly particles called neutrinos stream through our bodies every second, slipping past atoms without a trace.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Participants begin with live actors in red dresses, then transition into VR where ghostly avatars, fragmented scenes of loss, and an uncanny doppelgänger encounter unfold.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The second reason is that these aura battler designs were very complex and full of curves as well as weird angles.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Things get weird, however, when the lines between science fiction and fantasy start to blur.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The story unfolds in Agra during the 1990s, weaving together romantic elements with comedic beats and supernatural scares.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
-
From spooky Halloween teen shows to mysteries to supernatural programs, the list has a wide variety of high-quality, compelling shows that will give you all the fall feels.—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spectral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spectral. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share