haunting

[ hawn-ting, hahn- ]

adjective

1. remaining in the consciousness; not quickly forgotten:

   haunting music; haunting memories.

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that haunts; visitation.

haunting

/ ˈhɔːntɪŋ /

adjective

1. (of memories) poignant or persistent
2. poignantly sentimental; enchantingly or eerily evocative

Derived Forms

• ˈhauntingly, adverb

Other Words From

• haunting·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of haunting¹

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; haunt, -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

“The word stops, the heart dies / The wind counts the lost goodbyes,” goes one characteristically haunting stanza.

From Los Angeles Times

Actor Tony Todd, known for his haunting portrayal of a killer in the horror film “Candyman” and roles in many other films and television shows, has died, his longtime manager confirmed.

From Los Angeles Times

The low morale of Democrats while Biden ran for reelection was haunting.

From Salon

Ditto the indictment of universal war culture “In Any Tongue,” the song’s animated accompaniment heartbreaking, Gilmour’s tasteful use of his tremolo bar giving the song an aura both haunted and haunting.

From Los Angeles Times

There is also the haunting memory of a fellow smuggler who was shot dead.

From BBC

Related Words

• eerie
• memorable
• nostalgic
• spooky