haunted

[ hawn-tid, hahn- ]

adjective

1. inhabited or frequented by ghosts:

   a haunted castle.

2. preoccupied, as with an emotion, memory, or idea; obsessed:

   His haunted imagination gave him no peace.

3. disturbed; distressed; worried:

   Haunted by doubt he again turned to law books on the subject.

haunted

/ ˈhɔːntɪd /

adjective

1. frequented or visited by ghosts
2. postpositive obsessed or worried

Other Words From

• un·haunted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of haunted¹

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; haunt, -ed ²

Example Sentences

There were also signs that Dr. Sasse faced another problem that has haunted college leaders everywhere: the school’s U.S.

From New York Times

At Friday’s sentencing, Bernstein’s mother said she was haunted by the thought that her son was made “to die looking at an Atomwaffen mask.”

From Los Angeles Times

The track is alive with phantom creaks and a chilling atmosphere; it sounds like it was recorded in the attic of a haunted house.

From New York Times

Maybe she's also a stand-in for a nation perpetually haunted by the Troubles, the violent escalation between Northern Ireland's Catholics and Protestant loyalists through which “Say Nothing” travels.

From Salon

“This had haunted me for 70 years. The poor lady who phoned me, I felt sorry for her.”

From BBC

Related Words

• obsessed