ghostly
12 synonyms and 2 antonyms for ghostly, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Resembling or suggestive of a ghost; eerie and pale.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
apparitional
ghastly
ghostish
ghostlike
phantomic
phantomlike
phantasmal
phantasmic
wraithlike
wraithy
Antonyms
How to use ghostly
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a ghostly glow
ghostly figure
ghostly silence
Etymology
From Old English gastlic, "spiritual" — built from ghost plus the suffix -ly. It originally meant spiritual or holy before narrowing to its modern "spooky, spectral" sense.
Full origin of ghostly →Frequently asked questions
What does “ghostly” mean?
The word “ghostly” means resembling or suggestive of a ghost; eerie and pale. In plain terms, having the eerie, pale, ghost-like quality of something spectral or haunting.
How do you pronounce “ghostly”?
“Ghostly” is pronounced GOHST-lee (/ˈɡoʊstli/ in IPA).
How do you use “ghostly” in a sentence?
Here is “ghostly” used in a sentence: “A ghostly figure seemed to glide across the misty field.”
What is another word for “ghostly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ghostly” include apparitional, ghastly, ghostish, ghostlike, phantomic and phantomlike.
What part of speech is “ghostly”?
“Ghostly” is an adjective.
Where does the word “ghostly” come from?
The word “ghostly” comes from Old English. From Old English gastlic, "spiritual" — built from ghost plus the suffix -ly. It originally meant spiritual or holy before narrowing to its modern "spooky, spectral" sense.
Is “ghostly” a common word?
“Ghostly” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
