eerie

adjective

ee·​rie ˈir-ē How to pronounce eerie (audio)
variants or less commonly eery
eerier; eeriest
Synonyms of eerie
1
: so mysterious, strange, or unexpected as to send a chill up the spine
a coyote's eerie howl
the similarities were eerie
also : seemingly not of earthly origin
the flames cast an eerie glow
2
chiefly Scotland : affected with fright : scared
eeriness
ˈir-ē-nəs How to pronounce eerie (audio)
noun

Synonyms of eerie

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weird, eerie, uncanny mean mysteriously strange or fantastic.

weird may imply an unearthly or supernatural strangeness or it may stress peculiarity or oddness.

weird creatures from another world

eerie suggests an uneasy or fearful consciousness that mysterious and malign powers are at work.

an eerie calm preceded the bombing raid

uncanny implies disquieting strangeness or mysteriousness.

an uncanny resemblance between total strangers

Examples of eerie in a Sentence

The flames cast an eerie glow. a land of eerie beauty
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.
But the recording itself — which happened in eerie circumstances and nearly destroyed one of the trumpets — also underlines how our handling of antiquities has evolved dramatically in the intervening decades. — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 Often visited by outdoor enthusiasts, including hikers and horseback riders, the mountains have an eerie history. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 That feeling is not helped by looking at the others around you, who, in the eerie, silvery light, suddenly look almost ghoulish. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Aug. 2026 However, there was a bit of an eerie coincidence that fans started to notice as the day went on. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for eerie

Word History

Etymology

Middle English (northern dialect) eri

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of eerie was in the 14th century

Rhymes for eerie

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Browse Nearby Words

-eer
eerie
eerily
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Cite this Entry

“Eerie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eerie. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

eerie

adjective
ee·​rie
variants also eery
ˈi(ə)r-ē How to pronounce eerie (audio)
eerier; eeriest
: causing fear or uneasiness because of strangeness or gloominess
an eerie shadow
eerily
ˈir-ə-lē How to pronounce eerie (audio)
adverb
eeriness
ˈir-ē-nəs How to pronounce eerie (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on eerie

Nglish: Translation of eerie for Spanish Speakers

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