spectre

British  

/ ˈspɛktə /

noun

1. a ghost; phantom; apparition

2. a mental image of something unpleasant or menacing

   the spectre of redundancy

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Etymology

Origin of spectre

C17: from Latin spectrum, from specere to look at

Example Sentences

Attacks on oil infrastructure in the Gulf region and soaring oil prices are raising the spectre of a new oil crisis, although economists say we’re not quite there just yet.

From Barron's

On the day we met, as we strolled along Santa Monica pier in the sunshine, the spectre of war still loomed over him.

From BBC

Critics have raised the spectre of "circular financing" deals in which investments by Nvidia in other companies may be clouding perceptions about how robust AI demand really is.

From BBC

The mood on the convention floor was noticeably more upbeat than a year ago, when the spectre of tariffs cast clouds over the event.

From The Wall Street Journal

This development has raised the spectre of disruptions to Iran’s oil supply, ANZ Research analysts say in a research report.

From The Wall Street Journal