ghostly

[gohst-lee]

adjective

ghostlier, ghostliest 

1. of, characteristic of, or resembling a ghost; phantasmal; spectral.

   Synonyms: unearthly, ghostlike, phantom, wraithlike

2. Literary.,  spiritual.

ˈghostly

/ ˈɡəʊstlɪ /

adjective

1. of or resembling a ghost; spectral

   a ghostly face appeared at the window

2. suggesting the presence of ghosts; eerie

3. archaic,  of or relating to the soul or spirit

Other Word Forms

• ghostliness noun
• unghostly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ghostly¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English gāstlīc. See ghost, -ly

Example Sentences

Ardvrek is said to be haunted by the ghostly figure of a man, and a weeping woman.

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I hear ghostly whispers from the weapon’s runes, garbled messages spoken in forgotten languages.

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As she neared the window, she combed her fingers through the cool blue light and watched her hand turn into a ghostly puppet.

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It bathed them all in its ghostly light.

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Simon glanced around, as if making sure no ghostly eavesdroppers could hear them.

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Related Words

• eerie 
• ghastly 
• scary 
• shadowy 
• spectral 
• supernatural 
• weird