apparition

noun

ˌa-pə-ˈri-shən How to pronounce apparition (audio)
Definition of apparitionnext
as in ghost
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people an eccentric who claimed to have photographed an apparition in her very own house

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of apparition Venus, on the other hand, reaches its highest altitude in the western evening twilight during June for this current apparition and captures the gaze of millions. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 5 June 2026 That late-game run––forty-four points to the Cavs’ eleven––was as soul-crushing to Cleveland as the apparition of Willis Reed, hobbling to center court, had been to the Lakers fifty-six years ago. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 30 May 2026 The book is a poetry collection structured in three acts with seven players, each assigned a color of the rainbow and an apparition’s name, each of whom needs an audience to fully exist. — Literary Hub, 29 May 2026 The museum site has been a paranormal hotbed for decades, with sightings of apparitions, security camera footage capturing items flying off shelves, as well as experiences from staff members and visitors. — Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apparition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apparition
  1. ghost
  2. spirit
  3. phantom
Noun
  • Gradually, Shaban becomes a ghost of himself, in what comes to feel like a natural outcome in a society where a man’s value can be calculated down to the very last cent.
    — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 16 Aug. 2026
  • No manufacturer wants a multimillion-dollar jet sitting on the tarmac awaiting chairs or flying across the Atlantic carrying ghost suites.
    — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of ghost
Noun
  • The mini bar—located inside a gorgeous wooden cabinet—was filled with local spirits like pox, a Mayan liquor made of corn, sugar cane, and wheat, and Mayalen Guerrero mezcal in a bottle so beautiful I was tempted to sneak it back in my suitcase.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Drinkwitz has said Hardy is in good spirits throughout his recovery, even having his son accompany him to rehab.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of spirit
Noun
  • Both phantoms were packed with thousands of dosimeters, tracking radiation dose over specific phases of the flight rather than just a cumulative total.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The two phantoms were designed to be adult females, since previous research found that breasts and ovaries are especially susceptible to radiation damage.
    — Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of phantom

Browse Nearby Words

apparentness
apparition
apparitions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Apparition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apparition. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on apparition

Nglish: Translation of apparition for Spanish Speakers

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