Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

spectre

British  
/ ˈspɛktə /

noun

  1. a ghost; phantom; apparition

  2. a mental image of something unpleasant or menacing

    the spectre of redundancy

"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

Etymology

Origin of spectre

C17: from Latin spectrum, from specere to look at

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.

Growth in India's IT back offices is slowing, stocks are underperforming, hiring has shrunk and wages have stagnated as the spectre of a new disruptor looms large.

From BBC

"Let whatever happens happen! And that's it!" she tells the BBC, adding that worrying about the spectre of war doesn't help much.

From BBC

While the spectre of Bale is inescapable with Wales, Johnson had another impossible act to follow at Spurs, joining in the same transfer window in which Harry Kane left for Bayern Munich.

From BBC

They cannot allow him to be the spectre hanging over every game.

From BBC

One game down in Australia and the spectre of injury has already hit.

From BBC