ghostly

adjective

ghost·​ly ˈgōst-lē How to pronounce ghostly (audio)
ghostlier; ghostliest
Synonyms of ghostly
1
: of or relating to the soul : spiritual
2
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a ghost : spectral
ghostliness noun
ghostly adverb

Examples of ghostly in a Sentence

A ghostly figure appears in the house at night.
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.
Many of these ghostly impressions and meanings have survived to the present day. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Oct. 2026 And there’s this sort of strange, ghostly expectancy, which is quite weird, a mixture of apprehension and fear. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026 Who knows—your own ghostly gathering may ignite something that stands the test of time. — Maria Papadouris, JSTOR Daily, 20 Oct. 2026 Read on to learn all about the ghostly encounters of Vanessa Hudgens, Lily Collins, Demi Lovato and more. — Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ghostly

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ghostly was before the 12th century

Rhymes for ghostly

See All Rhymes for ghostly

Browse Nearby Words

ghostlore
ghostly
ghost moth
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ghostly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghostly. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ghostly

adjective
ghost·​ly ˈgōst-lē How to pronounce ghostly (audio)
ghostlier; ghostliest
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a ghost
ghostliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ghostly

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