spooky
UK: ˈspuːki | US: ˈspuːki
adj. eerie or frightening in a way suggestive of ghosts or the supernatural
adj. (informal) strangely unsettling or unnerving
The word "spooky" originates from the Dutch word spook, meaning "ghost" or "apparition," which entered English in the early 19th century. The suffix -y was added to form an adjective, giving "spooky" its modern sense of something eerie or unsettling, often with supernatural connotations. The term gained popularity in American English, particularly in Halloween contexts, and later broadened to describe anything vaguely unsettling.
The abandoned house had a spooky atmosphere, especially at night.
She told a spooky story around the campfire that made everyone shiver.
The foggy graveyard looked incredibly spooky in the moonlight.
His sudden disappearance was downright spooky.
That old doll has a spooky smile that creeps me out.