162 Spooky Words for Your Halloween

Halloween is the perfect time to learn (or review) spooky words.

Enhancing your vocabulary has many benefits, namely improving your writing—especially when it comes to controlling tone and mood. Or, if you’re learning how to speak English, acquiring new vocabulary words is critical to building your confidence with the language.

This article includes 162 spooky words in English, from common Halloween words like “skeleton” to more unusual words like “ossuary.”

Use these spooky words for Halloween poems, scary stories, Happy Halloween images or decorations, Halloween Instagram captions and content, and scary texts. And to make sure you use them correctly, use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker.

Spooky words A-Z

Here’s a list of spooky words and a brief definition for each. These nouns, verbs, and adjectives all relate to the spooky, surreal, supernatural, or darker side of life.

Spooky words that start with A–C

1. Alchemy: a magical process of turning metals into gold or finding eternal life
2. Amulet: a charm or object believed to protect against evil
3. Apparition: a ghostly figure or spirit that suddenly appears
4. Arachnid: a creature with eight legs, like a spider or scorpion
5. Asylum: an old word for a hospital for the mentally ill, often housed in buildings now seen as eerie or haunted
6. Axe: a sharp tool or weapon with a heavy blade
7. Banshee: a female spirit in Irish folklore whose wailing warns of death
8. Bat: a flying nocturnal mammal often linked to vampires
9. Bewitch: to cast a spell on or enchant someone
10. Bloodcurdling: extremely frightening; making your blood feel cold with fear
11. Bones: the hard parts inside a body, often linked with skeletons and death
12. Boogeyman: a mythical monster said to scare children
13. Broomstick: a broom, used by witches to fly
14. Bury: to place something, usually a body, in the ground
15. Cackle: a loud, witch-like laugh
16. Cape: a long, flowing outer garment, often worn by vampires
17. Catacombs: underground tunnels used as burial places
18. Cauldron: a large pot used by witches to brew potions
19. Cemetery: a place where the dead are buried; a graveyard
20. Cobweb: an old, dusty spider web
21. Coffin: a box used to hold a dead body for burial
22. Corpse: a dead human body
23. Costume: clothing worn to look like someone or something else
24. Creaky: making a squeaking or groaning sound, like old floors or doors
25. Creature: any living being, often used for monsters or unknown beings
26. Creepy: strange or scary in a way that causes unease
27. Crypt: a stone chamber beneath a church, used for burials
28. Cryptid: a mysterious creature said to exist (e.g., Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster)
29. Chthonic: related to the underworld
30. Curse: a spell that brings bad luck or harm

Spooky words that start with D–F

31. Decadence: moral or cultural decline, often linked with luxurious self-indulgence
32. Decay: the process of rotting or breaking down over time
33. Demon: an evil spirit or devil, common in religion and folklore
34. Devil: the ruler of evil spirits; a symbol of ultimate evil
35. Dire: extremely serious or terrible
36. Disquieting: causing worry, unease, or fear
37. Doom: unavoidable destruction or death; to condemn to death or destruction
38. Dracula: a famous vampire character from literature and film
39. Dread: great fear or anxiety; to anticipate something coming with fear
40. Dungeon: a dark underground prison or cell, often in a castle
41. Eclipse: when one celestial body blocks the light of another, creating darkness
42. Ectoplasm: a ghostly, glowing substance said to come from spirits
43. Eerie: strange and unsettling in a way that causes fear
44. Eldritch: weird, unnatural, uncanny, or otherworldly
45. Embalm: to preserve a dead body with chemicals
46. Enchant: to cast a magical spell; to fill someone with delight
47. Enigma: a mysterious or puzzling person or thing
48. Entity: something that exists as a distinct being or presence
49. Evil: deeply immoral, wicked, or bad
50. Exorcise: to drive out an evil spirit from a person or place
51. Fang: a long, sharp tooth, especially in vampires or snakes
52. Fear: an unpleasant feeling caused by the threat of danger or harm
53. Fiend: an evil or cruel person; a demon-like being
54. Folklore: traditional stories and beliefs passed down through generations
55. Fright: a sudden intense feeling of fear
56. Frightening: causing fear or alarm
57. Frightful: very bad or terrifying in appearance or effect
58. Funeral: a ceremony held for someone who has died

Spooky words that start with G–K

59. Gargoyle: a stone carving of a monster, often found on old buildings
60. Ghastly: shockingly horrible or terrifying
61. Ghost: the spirit of a dead person that appears to the living
62. Ghoul: an evil spirit, especially one that feeds on the dead
63. Ghoulish: disturbing or morbidly interested in death or horror
64. Goblin: a small, ugly creature known for causing trouble
65. Grave: a place where a dead body is buried
66. Gravestone: a stone marker placed at a grave
67. Gremlin: a mischievous creature said to cause problems or accidents
68. Grim Reaper: the personification of death, shown as a hooded figure with a scythe
69. Grisly: extremely unpleasant or involving horror and blood
70. Gruesome: very shocking or revolting, especially because of violence or death
71. Haunt: to appear as a ghost or to stay in someone’s mind
72. Haunted house: a building believed to be visited by ghosts or spirits
73. Hayride: a ride in a wagon filled with hay that’s a typical Halloween activity
74. Hex: a magical spell meant to bring bad luck
75. Hobgoblin: a mischievous or troublesome spirit
76. Hocus-pocus: meaningless talk or trickery; also used as a magical phrase
77. Horror: intense fear or shock; a genre of film and literature intended to scare
78. Howl: a long, loud cry made by a wolf, dog, or monster
79. Incantation: words spoken as a magic spell
80. Insidious: slowly spreading in a harmful or sneaky way
81. Intimidate: to frighten or menace someone
82. Jack-o’-lantern: a carved pumpkin with a candle inside
83. Jinx: something or someone that brings bad luck
84. Jumpscare: a sudden, shocking moment meant to startle someone
85. Knell: the slow, solemn sound of a bell, often heard at funerals

Spooky words that start with L–O

86. Lantern: a portable light with a cover to protect the flame
87. Lich: an undead sorcerer who uses dark magic to live forever
88. Lurk: to hide and wait, usually with bad intentions
89. Lycanthrope: a person who turns into a wolf; a werewolf
90. Macabre: disturbing or grim, often connected to death
91. Magic: the use of supernatural powers to influence events
92. Mausoleum: a large, impressive building where the dead are buried
93. Midnight: twelve o’clock at night, sometimes seen as the “demonic hour”
94. Monster: a frightening or unnatural creature
95. Moribund: at the point of death
96. Mugwort: a plant sometimes used in herbal medicine and magic spells
97. Mummy: a preserved body wrapped in cloth, usually associated with Ancient Egypt
98. Necromancy: the practice of communicating with the dead through magic
99. Nightmare: a frightening or disturbing dream
100. Nightshade: a poisonous plant often linked to witches and potions
101. Nocturnal: active or happening at night
102. Nosferatu: another name for a vampire, from old folklore and film
103. Occult: relating to secret or supernatural powers and knowledge
104. Ogre: a large, cruel monster from folklore
105. Omen: a sign or event that predicts something, often bad, will happen
106. Oracle: a person or place believed to give prophetic messages
107. Ossuary: a container or building where human bones are kept
108. Owl: a nocturnal bird often seen as a symbol of mystery or wisdom

Spooky words that start with P–S

109. Pagan: relating to the ancient, nature-centered religions and rituals of European cultures
110. Paranormal: unable to be explained by science
111. Pentagram: a five-pointed star often used in magic or rituals
112. Petrify: to scare someone so much they feel unable to move
113. Phantasm: an illusion, ghost, or apparition
114. Phantom: a ghost or spirit
115. Phobia: an extreme fear of something
116. Poltergeist: a noisy ghost that moves objects and causes disturbances
117. Potion: a magical liquid with special effects, often brewed by witches
118. Preternatural: beyond what is normal or natural; extraordinary
119. Pumpkin: a round orange fruit often carved for Halloween
120. Quiver: to shake or tremble, often from fear
121. Raven: a large black bird often associated with mystery or omens
122. Revenant: a person who has returned, usually from the dead
123. Ritual: a series of actions performed for magic, religion, or ceremony
124. Rustling: a soft, crackling sound, like leaves or fabric moving
125. Sage: a plant used in magical cleansing rituals
126. Scream: a loud, high-pitched cry of fear or pain
127. Sepulchral: related to a tomb; gloomy
128. Shade: a ghost
129. Shriek: to sharply cry out of fear or pain
130. Skeleton: the structure of bones inside a body
131. Skinwalker: a shapeshifting creature from Native American folklore
132. Skull: the framework of bones surrounding the brain
133. Slasher: a horror film about a serial killer who uses a blade
134. Spectre: a ghost or spirit
135. Spell: a set of words or actions used to perform magic
136. Spider: an eight-legged arachnid, often linked to webs and fear
137. Spine-tingling: causing a shiver of fear or excitement
138. Spirit: the non-physical essence of a person or being
139. Spooky: causing fear, unease, or a sense of the supernatural
140. Supernatural: existing beyond the observable universe and laws of nature

Spooky words that start with T–Z

141. Tenebrous: dark, shadowy, or gloomy; hard to understand
142. Thriller: a story, movie, or book that is exciting and suspenseful
143. Tombstone: a stone marker that marks a grave
144. Transylvania: a region in Romania famous for vampire legends
145. Trick or treat: a Halloween custom where children ask for candy
146. Turnip: a root vegetable, historically carved like pumpkins for Halloween
147. Undead: beings that are dead but behave as if alive (e.g., zombies or vampires)
148. Unsettling: causing discomfort or anxiety
149. Vampire: an undead creature that drinks the blood of the living
150. Vengeance: revenge for a wrong or injury
151. Vial: a small container used to hold liquids, often potions or potion ingredients
152. Voodoo: a religion that blends Catholicism with African magical practices
153. Wail: a long, mournful cry of pain, grief, or fear
154. Wand: a stick used to perform magic
155. Warlock: a male witch or practitioner of dark magic
156. Werewolf: a person who turns into a wolf during a full moon
157. Will-o’-the-wisp: a ghostly light seen at night, often leading travelers astray
158. Wraith: a ghost
159. Witch: a person who practices magic, usually used to refer to a woman
160. Yarrow: a plant historically used in magic or healing
161. Yeti: a mythical, ape-like creature said to live in the Himalayas
162. Zombie: a reanimated corpse that feeds on the living

How to use these spooky words

Some ideas for how to use these spooky words are:

• Make your writing more vivid with synonyms: Many spooky words have synonyms that can change tone or intensity. For example, instead of always using “scary,” why not try “spine-tingling” or “blood-curdling” instead? In addition to this article, QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you find synonyms to use in your writing.
• Brainstorm story ideas: If you want to write a scary story or a Halloween poem, these spooky words can help you brainstorm ideas. Try choosing a few words and seeing what ideas you come up with. QuillBot’s story topic generator can also help you with this.
• Create writing prompts: Besides story ideas, these words can help you craft Halloween writing prompts. Use these prompts as a Halloween party activity or to help students practice writing. QuillBot’s story prompt generator is a great tool for quickly generating spooky prompts.
• Generate classroom activities: Teachers can use these spooky words to create Halloween activities for their students, like vocabulary worksheets, word searches, spelling bees, and crosswords. Find other word lists organized by category below, and use QuillBot’s AI Chat to help organize and generate your classroom activities.
• Create AI images: If you want to create Halloween images with AI (like with QuillBot’s AI image generator), these words can help you write specific, detailed prompts, which lead to better output. For example, a “tenebrous” sky is more evocative than a “dark” sky.

Spooky words by categories

If you want spooky words to use in classroom or party activities, these lists are organized by category and are easy to copy and paste.

Common Halloween words

These are common Halloween words that everyone, including children, should know.

1. Bat
2. Bones
3. Broomstick
4. Cape
5. Cemetery
6. Cobweb
7. Coffin
8. Costume
9. Devil
10. Ghost
11. Goblin
12. Grave
13. Haunted house
14. Jack-o’-lantern
15. Lantern
16. Midnight
17. Mummy
18. Pumpkin
19. Skeleton
20. Skull
21. Tombstone
22. Trick or treat
23. Vampire
24. Werewolf
25. Witch
26. Zombie

Spooky creatures

Below are words for creepy creatures and spooky entities.