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Synonyms

spooky

American  
[spoo-kee] / ˈspu ki /

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 British  
/ ˈspuːkɪ /

adjective

  1. ghostly or eerie

    a spooky house

  2. resembling or appropriate to a ghost

  3. easily frightened; highly strung

"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

  • spookily adverb
  • spookiness noun

Etymology

Origin of spooky

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

For some, the festive season begins the second the spooky season ends, with trees going up straight after Halloween, but for others this may be a lot later.

From BBC

Did this add to the spooky, murder mystery vibe of the film?

From BBC

She was merely using an expression that means to get a sudden and unpleasantly spooky feeling.

From Literature

Princesses of even the most delicate sensibilities have been known to enjoy a rugged camping trip, with melted marshmallows and spooky tales told ’round the fire.

From Literature

Cassiopeia was adding more lines to her Poe poem, while Beowulf helpfully drew page after page of spooky ravens to inspire her.

From Literature

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.