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

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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 But the ghosts seem to focus on Eleanor, who may have telekinetic powers and who may have had experiences with a poltergeist as a child. — Literary Hub, 26 May 2026 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 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
  • From glittering ghosts, ghastly goblins and wicked witches to wily warlocks, fashion can inspire any Halloween transformation.
    — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2026
  • There were earlier versions of this story that were openly mocking of Kip, versions that threw Leo under the bus for being too sly; versions that were too overtly political; versions with ghosts that didn’t need to be there, and so on.
    — Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of ghost
Noun
  • The spacecraft encounters transformed a disappointing naked-eye apparition into a landmark scientific campaign.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • One is Eye Witness (1987), a wintry landscape of two figures who seem to look away from an apparition of sorts; a skyscraper in the distance bears a resemblance to the Empire State Building.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of apparition
Noun
  • After all, many a good cause got its start from a spirit of noblesse oblige.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • But the ending hints at the possibility that the spirit of Jason may have leapt into the youngster.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of spirit

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Pollyannas
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Cite this Entry

“Poltergeist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poltergeist. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on poltergeist

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about poltergeist

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