spooky

[ spoo-kee ]

See synonyms for: spooky spookiest on Thesaurus.com

adjective,spook·i·er, spook·i·est.Informal.

like or befitting a spook or ghost; suggestive of spooks.
eerie; scary.

(especially of horses) nervous; skittish.

Origin of spooky

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; spook + -y¹

Other words from spooky

spook·i·ly, adverb
spook·i·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use spooky in a sentence

With the rise of quantum computing, algorithms tailored to the machine’s “spooky action at a distance” could further increase the system’s efficiency.
This ‘Quantum Brain’ Would Mimic Our Own to Speed Up AI | Shelly Fan | February 9, 2021 | Singularity Hub
While “The Medium” is clearly spooky through its ambiance, it’s unfortunate that it never builds upon those environments with effective scares.
‘The Medium’ review: A disjointed, unfulfilling puzzle horror game | Elise Favis | February 1, 2021 | Washington Post
Playing on professional is spooky, but the difficulty wanes the better you become at ghost hunting.
Are you a ‘Phasmophobia’ pro? Here are some alternate rules to keep the scares fresh. | Elise Favis | January 11, 2021 | Washington Post
There was a strange spookiness about the place that made them half afraid to remain any longer.
The Purple Flame | Roy J. Snell

British Dictionary definitions for spooky

spooky

/ (ˈspuːkɪ) /

adjectivespookier or spookiest informal

ghostly or eerie: a spooky house
resembling or appropriate to a ghost

US easily frightened; highly strung

Derived forms of spooky

spookily, adverb
spookiness, noun

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

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