spooky

[spoo-kee]

adjective

Informal.

spookier, spookiest 

1. like or befitting a spook or ghost; suggestive of spooks.

2. eerie; scary.

3. (especially of horses) nervous; skittish.

ˈspooky

/ ˈspuːkɪ /

adjective

1. ghostly or eerie

   a spooky house

2. resembling or appropriate to a ghost

3. easily frightened; highly strung

Other Word Forms

• spookiness noun
• spookily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ˈspooky¹

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; spook + -y ¹

Example Sentences

“Once upon a midnight dreary, / while I pondered, weak and weary . . . .” Thus begins the most celebrated spooky poem by the most celebrated of spooky 19th-century American writers.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

“The Willows” is a Los Angeles spooky season staple and has sold out its tickets for October, although limited spots remain for November and December.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Rather, they are merely Halloween-inspired, containing candies that are shaped like bats and cats — undeniably two of the spookiest creatures.

Read more on Salon

Subconsciously hearing the words of Shakespeare, Wednesday’s mind travels to a spooky dream state where she converses with a spirit guide and is then told to “wake up,” which she does.

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The actress describes Johnson as a "dear friend", adding: "One of the most extraordinary things was seeing him completely disappear, it was spooky."

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Related Words

• chilling 
• creepy 
• eerie 
• ghostly 
• mysterious 
• ominous 
• scary 
• supernatural 
• uncanny 
• weird