spookier; spookiest
1
: strange, unsettling, or frightening in a way that suggests the supernatural : eerie, uncanny
[Caroline] Shaw's composition … is a mysterious and densely layered four-movement work … with vocalization and spookier in-between sounds that originate deep in the throat: moans, gasps, exhalations of breath.Gia Kourlas
Olivia Wilde's new film … owes a debt to many spooky dramas about the dark side of the suburbs—think The Stepford Wives, with even more of a sci-fi edge.David Sims
sometimes, specifically : relating to, resembling, or suggesting ghosts or spooks
Spooky stories of Hawaiian night marchers (ghosts of warriors and chiefs) lurking around bushes and walking the trail are often told, but these haunted tales are not true, according to Lopaka Kapanui, a Native Hawaiian master storyteller … Christina Hitt
2
: nervous, skittish
Dealing with Louisa when she was having an attack was very much like dealing with a spooky horse. You had to exude self-confidence …Jane Smiley
spookily adverb
spookiness noun

Examples of spooky in a Sentence

The music was pretty spooky. a spooky horse shying at shadows
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This weekend, April 12-13, every streamer and theater decided to mark the return or premiere of their spookiest, most dystopian projects. Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025 The Original Misfits The desert is going to get spooky when horror-punk pioneers the Misfits close out the Outdoor Theatre on Saturday night. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025 The horror tale is digestible even with limited dialogue, and the unique perspective and clever cinematography make for a tasty and spooky cinematic treat. William Earl, Variety, 9 Apr. 2025 Options include the spooky Charlotte Ghosted Tour — which spends an hour taking you to famous haunts around the city including Settler’s Cemetery and the Bootlegger House. Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spooky

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spooky was in 1854

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spooky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spooky. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

spooky

adjective
spookier; spookiest
1
: relating to, resembling, or suggesting ghosts
spooky houses
2
: skittish sense 2
a spooky horse
spookiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on spooky

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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