poltergeist

noun

ˈpōl-tər-ˌgīst How to pronounce poltergeist (audio)
Definition of poltergeistnext
as in ghost
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people we thought a poltergeist was knocking dishes off the shelves, but it turned out to just be vibrations from passing trains

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 poltergeist The cupboards open and shut on their own, as if a poltergeist is rummaging through the house. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 18 Mar. 2026 Some would argue that Presence is more drama with supernatural elements than horror, but this is a haunted-house movie filmed from the perspective of a poltergeist. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025 Valak first appears in The Conjuring 2, when the Warrens are in England, investigating the Enfield poltergeist — the case of a young girl allegedly experiencing a supernatural force taking over her body. — Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025 The Warrens are also famous for their investigation of a haunted house in Amityville, NY, and the 1980s Connecticut poltergeist case based on a Warren case, in which demonic possession was used unsuccessfully as a defense in a murder trial. — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for poltergeist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poltergeist
  1. ghost
  2. apparition
  3. spirit
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
  • That is, until miraculous apparitions turn it into a place to be.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • The music starts to shift beginning with the third episode, when Lestat becomes overwhelmed by the apparition of his abusive maker and other ghosts, including Claudia, whose killing he’d been forced to witness firsthand.
    — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
Definition of apparition
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

Browse Nearby Words

Pollyannas
poltergeist
poltergeists
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Cite this Entry

“Poltergeist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poltergeist. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on poltergeist

Nglish: Translation of poltergeist for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about poltergeist

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