Synonyms

specter

American

[spek-ter] / ˈspɛk tər /

especially British, spectre

noun

a visible incorporeal spirit, especially one of a terrifying nature; ghost; phantom; apparition.

Synonyms:

shade
some object or source of terror or dread.

the specter of disease or famine.

Related Words

See ghost.

Etymology

Origin of specter

First recorded 1595–1605; from Latin spectrum “appearance, form”; see spectrum

Explanation

A specter means a ghostly apparition, a ghost itself, or simply an idea that people find frightening. You can give yourself nightmares if you listen to too many stories about ghostly specters appearing in dark windows. Specters as fears are the kind that tend to loom on the edge of our minds, lying dormant for awhile, then raising their ugly heads. It can be hard to sleep if you think too much about the specter of a terrorist attack, or the specter that your blabbermouth cousin might spill the beans to your parents about the night you two took your dad's car without asking. The word can also be spelled spectre.

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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.

"Boeing was negligent, Boeing's aircraft was unsafe, Boeing caused this crash and these deaths," said Shanin Specter, lawyer for the family of Samya Stumo, a 24-year-old American woman killed in the accident.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

Appeared in the March 12, 2026, print edition as 'Escalating Hormuz Crisis Raises Specter of Prolonged Closure'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Gabriel Macht, left, as Harvey Specter and Sarah Rafferty as Donna Paulsen in the 2019 series finale of “Suits.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2025

The men's attorney, Shanin Specter, said in a statement that the men “seek to correct the record and clear their names once again”.

From BBC • Oct. 21, 2024

The Door open & it is Octavian, I thought at first it was a Specter & took up the Poker.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

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