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Synonyms

haunting

American  
[hawn-ting, hahn-] / ˈhɔn tɪŋ, ˈhɑn- /

adjective

  1. remaining in the consciousness; not quickly forgotten.

    haunting music; haunting memories.

noun

  1. the act of a person or thing that haunts; visitation.

haunting British  
/ ˈhɔːntɪŋ /

adjective

  1. (of memories) poignant or persistent

  2. poignantly sentimental; enchantingly or eerily evocative

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of haunting

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at haunt, -ing 2, -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Haunting notes of music, lines of poetry and Shakespearean verses cascade out of him.

From BBC • Nov. 3, 2025

He also appeared in TV movies “The Haunting of Lisa,” “Going for the Gold: The Bill Johnson Story” and “Beggarman, Thief,” as well as the special “You Are the Jury.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 2, 2024

The creator of The Haunting of Hill House is taking a stab at Edgar Allan Poe.

From Slate • Oct. 11, 2023

In third, “ A Haunting in Venice ” earned $6.3 million.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 24, 2023

Books at first were her delight; Gwendolen grew erudite; Vain were my petitions, Till in scientific terms I dilated on the germs Haunting first editions.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 146, April 22, 1914 by Seaman, Owen, Sir

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.