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Glite Dictionary
poltergeist

poltergeist

15 9.7
A ghost that makes loud noises and moves things
  • noun
  • /ˈpoʊltərˌɡaɪst/
  • Literature
: poltergeist
  • In the old mansion, the loud noises were caused by a mischievous poltergeist moving furniture around.
  • a poltergeist in the house
  • poltergeist activity
  • Poltergeist film

But what I do know is it's not Don the poltergeist possessed by a demon and is burning flesh.

Examples

  • Nothing gibbering at you in the dark, or throwing furniture around in classic poltergeist style?

    Fiction book (1992)

  • There were dozens of reports of poltergeists, the "racketing spirits" who banged on walls, moved furniture, and pulled blankets off sleepers...

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Heaven protect the poor poltergeist who tried to take up residence in this house!

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Have I told the blog about my poltergeist experience in an apartment on Avenue A?

    Blog text (7)

  • How long has it been since you've seen that poltergeist?

    Dead Awake (2010)

  • Aria sat in the straight-backed chair and trapped her hands between her knees, waiting for the poltergeist.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • They fought the pesky poltergeist, then danced the night away- - with some of the ladies who witnessed the disturbance.

    Ghostbusters (1984)

  • For a whole year, throughout 1761 and 1762, a poltergeist terrorized landlord Richard Giles' two daughters.

    Blog text (27)

  • The family was terrified when they began experiencing strange occurrences attributed to a poltergeist.

  • After watching the documentary, she became convinced that her house was haunted by a poltergeist.

Synonyms

ghoul
vspoltergeist
  • NSFW
64 9.3

An evil spirit that haunts graveyards and eats dead bodies

focuses on physical mischief like noise and object movement not eating corpses
apparition
vspoltergeist
  • Literature
23 8.9

A ghost that people see suddenly

makes noises and moves objects rather than just appearing
spook
vspoltergeist
17 4.7

A ghost believed to frighten people

creates physical disturbances rather than only causing fear
specter
vspoltergeist
  • US
16 8.6

A ghost that people say appears and frightens them at night

causes physical disturbances rather than only appearing visibly
disembodied spirit
vspoltergeist
  • Literature
1 9.5

A spirit without a body that appears to people or stays near places

produces physical effects like loud noises or thrown items
haunter
vspoltergeist
1 7.9

Someone or something that often appears in the same place, for example a ghost

acts by moving or making things noisy in the location

How Disruptive

poltergeist
  • Literature
15 9.7
demon
  • Literature
807 5.3
ghost
∞ 3.0
apparition
6 8.7

Surface Forms

poltergeist singular
poltergeists plural

Etymology

Poltergeist comes from German parts polter meaning 'to make noise' and geist meaning 'spirit' or 'ghost'. So a poltergeist is a 'noisy spirit' that makes loud sounds and moves objects, which is why we use the word for a ghost that causes physical disturbances.