eldritch
Eldritch things are spooky and weird — they make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
If you're reading a horror or fantasy story, you may see the word eldritch, which means uncanny, unearthly, and weird in a supernatural way. Anything a witch does is eldritch. Goblins and elves are eldritch creatures. A story full of ghosts and strange monsters is full of eldritch elements. You won't find much that's eldritch in a story about lawyers or doctors. Those kinds of stories are more realistic.
-
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences“an eldritch screech”supernaturalnot existing in nature or subject to explanation according to natural laws; not physical or material
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago
Vocabulary lists containing eldritch
Haunted by the apparition of overused terms like spooky and creepy? Fear not! Learn lesser-known words like eldritch and hallow, and even if you don't have the best costume, you'll have the best vocabulary. Learn about the deep, dark past of these words in the full article: A Big Bag of Halloween Terms
For six years, logophiles at Wayne State University have curated a crowd-sourced list of "old words [that] deserve a bit more love," selecting a top ten list of words especially in need of attention at the new year. Here's a selection of our favorites from the 2014 and 2015 lists. Adopt one and promise to use it regularly in the coming year! Check out "Word Warriors: Four Years of Words Worth Reviving, 2009-2013" here. Note: sentence examples drawn from the Word Warriors page.