1
as in spy
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country
Russia recalled its spooks after the collapse of the Soviet Union
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in ghost
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people
Halloween is the night when spooks and goblins are said to roam abroad
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to frighten
to strike with fear
the sudden noise spooked her out of her skin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spook
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 14 July 2024
Read on for what the cosmos have in store for your zodiac sign this Halloween amid Scorpio season, according to PEOPLE's resident astrologer Kyle Thomas
Comments
There's a spook in the stars!
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024
Brian Evans, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2025
Back in the day, the concept of paper or fiat money would have spooked those married to the gold standard.
—Solo Ceesay, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for spook 
Noun
But Fly Me to the Moon barely develops its lead characters, played by Johansson and Channing Tatum, so what chance does Harrelson have in playing anything more than a one-dimensional spook?
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 14 July 2024
Read on for what the cosmos have in store for your zodiac sign this Halloween amid Scorpio season, according to PEOPLE's resident astrologer Kyle Thomas
Comments
There's a spook in the stars!
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
The development spooked investors and raised questions around the amount of money tech giants in the U.S. have devoted toward AI.
—Brian Evans, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2025
Back in the day, the concept of paper or fiat money would have spooked those married to the gold standard.
—Solo Ceesay, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for spook
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spook
Noun
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These include spy satellites, missile warning sentinels, and spacecraft for the Global Positioning System.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
11 Feb. 2025
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South Korea's spy agency estimated in January that about 300 North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia to fight against Ukrainian forces had been killed, and a further 2,700 injured.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
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
Verb
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Thousands of residents and visitors have left Santorini, frightened by the earthquakes measuring between magnitude 3 and magnitude 5 in the area since the weekend.—
Elena Becatoros,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2025
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President Trump did no one any favors and his irresponsible accusations were meant to confuse and spread an unfounded conspiracy while both trying to score political points as well as frighten the flying public needlessly.—
Michael B. Teiger,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Capone was holed up in Florida at the time but is believed to have sent four assassins to take out Moran and his operatives.—
Sarah Holzmann,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Feb. 2025
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Law enforcement officials warned Trump last year that Tehran had placed operatives in the U.S. with access to surface-to-air missiles.—
Alex Isenstadt,
Axios,
9 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
Verb
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His limited resume and the fact he’s spent more time in the box than on the edge also might scare teams, which means Walker’s potential draft range could be rather large.—
Nick Baumgardner,
The Athletic,
18 Feb. 2025
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That's one week after Borderlands 4 and just in time to scare everyone (hopefully) during the all-spooky Halloween season.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The relationship between the Cubs and the Japanese player came into focus during Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings, where Wasserman agent Joel Wolfe told reporters that the club had broached the subject of Suzuki potentially waiving his no-trade clause.—
Patrick Mooney,
The Athletic,
15 Feb. 2025
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Sports Listen to this article 1 of 24 Originally Published: February 15, 2025 at 12:39 AM EST Most Popular Most Popular Federal agents are rounding up migrants in Florida, but specifics are spotty.—
Stephen M. Dowell,
Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 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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On the heels of her 101st birthday, a Beverly Hills residence with ties to the businesswoman and creative spirit has splashed onto the market for $16.5 million.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near spook
Cite this Entry
“Spook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spook. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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