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eldritch

eldritch

2 9.9
Strange and frightening in a way that seems supernatural
  • adjective
  • /ˈɛldrɪtʃ/
  • Archaic
: extraño
  • The film was filled with eldritch creatures that seemed to defy the laws of nature.

So there's all these, you know, to use a phrase that that Lovecraft likes to, to employ eldritch forces right now.

Examples

  • Legend speaks of an eldritch being awakened from its slumber, bringing chaos to the world.

  • The old mansion had an eldritch atmosphere that made the hair on my neck stand up.

  • Miss Ruina's version glows with strong, eldritch power.

    Blog text (29)
  • So there's all these, you know, to use a phrase that that Lovecraft likes to, to employ eldritch forces right now.

  • As shadows loom over Intel, another eldritch horror awaits lawyers.

Synonyms

freaky
vseldritch
  • Informal
158 6.9

Strange in a way that makes you feel scared or nervous

is more formal and specifically suggests frightening supernatural causes
spooky
vseldritch
116 3.2

Strange and frightening in a way that makes you feel nervous, like a ghost

is darker and more strongly linked to uncanny terror
mystical
vseldritch
98 7.1

Having a spiritual quality that feels beyond normal understanding

is more focused on eerie or frightening supernatural suggestion rather than spirituality
eerie
vseldritch
77 5.1

A strange, frightening feeling as if ghosts are nearby

leans more toward oddness that actively frightens
uncanny
vseldritch
58 7.0

Strange or mysterious in a way that makes you feel uneasy

is more explicitly tied to fright and supernatural influence
otherworldly
vseldritch
  • Literature
30 7.8

Seeming to come from another world and very strange

is darker, often causing fear rather than wonder
weird
vseldritch
  • Literature
15 3.8

Strange in a way that seems caused by ghosts or spirits

is more strongly frightening and explicitly unnatural
spectral
vseldritch
  • Literature
10 7.5

Looking like a ghost and causing fear

is broader, stressing strange and often frightening unnaturalness
unearthly
vseldritch
9 7.7

Very strange and not like anything from this world

adds a stronger sense of fright and oddness
eery
vseldritch
  • UK
3 6.7

Strange in a way that makes you feel afraid or uneasy

is slightly more archaic and intensely frightening
phantasmagoric
vseldritch
  • Literature
1 9.9

Looks like a strange dream with changing images

is less surreal and more directly frightening or uncanny
phantasmagorical
vseldritch
  • Literature
1 9.9

Something that looks strange and like a vivid dream

is more about frightening supernatural presence than surreal imagery
apparitional
vseldritch
  • Literature
1 9.9

Having the look or feel of a ghost

is more general about strange supernatural fear rather than sightings
phantasmic
vseldritch
  • Literature
1 9.7

Having a quality like a dream or a ghost that seems unreal

is more about clear supernatural oddness and fear rather than dreaminess

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Usual or expected in most situations

681 1.0

Normal and not special or unusual

How Strange

eldritch
  • Archaic
2 9.9
unearthly
9 7.7
eerie
77 5.1
strange
∞ 2.3
odd
878 1.0

Surface Forms

eldritch positive

Etymology

Eldritch likely comes from old words like elf 'a magical being' and ric 'realm or power', so it once meant something from the world of elves. That's why eldritch now describes something strange or frightening, as if it came from another, magical world.