ghostly

[ gohst-lee ]

adjective

, ghost·li·er, ghost·li·est.

1. of, characteristic of, or resembling a ghost; phantasmal; spectral.

   Synonyms: ghostlike, wraithlike, unearthly, phantom

2. Literary. spiritual.

ˈghostly

/ ˈɡəʊstlɪ /

adjective

1. of or resembling a ghost; spectral

   a ghostly face appeared at the window

2. suggesting the presence of ghosts; eerie
3. archaic.
   of or relating to the soul or spirit

Derived Forms

• ˈghostliness, noun

Other Words From

• ghostli·ness noun
• un·ghostly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ghostly¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English gāstlīc. See ghost, -ly

Example Sentences

They have also found species they had never seen or known, including types of wild orchid, ghostly white cave fish and various spiders and snails.

From BBC

He starred as the title character in the horror series, depicting the ghostly Candyman character with a hook for a hand, summoned by saying his name five times in front of a mirror.

From BBC

Granted, “Out of Time’s” earworm “Shiny Happy People” is gratingly banal, but the album also features spoken-word passages, brooding bass lines and ghostly steel-guitar drone.

From Los Angeles Times

By relinquishing that quest and settling into her new ghostly state –– which, we agree with Billy, suits her –– Agatha can impart the wisdom she’s learned walking the proverbial Witches Road.

From Salon

Drive through any neighborhood in Los Angeles County and you’ll find several homes with a giant inflatable pumpkin, Jack Skellington or ghostly arch.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• eerie
• ghastly
• scary
• shadowy
• spectral
• supernatural
• weird