Unveiling Spooktacular Macabre Words for Halloween

'Tis the season for spectral sitings, y’all! What are some of your favorite shiver-inducing words that celebrate the eerie essence of October? 

Below are seven words that give goosebumps to even the most jaded horror enthusiasts: 

1) Specter: A ghostly or haunting apparition

Example: A chilling specter appeared in the moonlight, sending shivers down my spine.

2) Macabre: Disturbing, gruesome, or related to the supernatural

Example: The horror film included some hardcore macabre scenes.

3) Eldritch: Weird, eerie, or otherworldly 

Example: The eldritch incantations summoned forces beyond human comprehension.

4) Phantasmagoric: Characterized by dreamlike or fantastical images

Example: The carnival's funhouse was a phantasmagoric maze of mirrors.

5) Sanguineous: Pertaining to blood 

Example: Vampires are indeed sanguineous creatures.

6) Lycanthropy: A belief in which a person believes they can transform into a werewolf

Example: The legend of lycanthropy usually involves a full moon.

7) Diabolic: Extremely evil or devilish

Example: Stephen King is a masterclass at writing diabolic villains, whether it’s a dog, prom queen, or clown. 

8) Ominous: Giving the impression that something bad or threatening is about to happen; foreboding or menacing.

Example: There was an ominous energy over the otherwise peaceful town.

9) Witching Hour: Typically around midnight, when supernatural events are believed to be more likely to occur

Example: During the witching hour, the eerie sounds of the forest and the howling wind added to the spooky atmosphere.

10) Obfuscate: To deliberately obscure, confuse, or darken. 

Example: Most Halloween tales involve obfuscation, leaving audiences in a state of suspenseful uncertainty.

As the moon casts its ghostly glow, leverage this lexiconical moment. Have students write Halloween Haikus, spooky poems, campfire stories, or do a Frayer Model / interactive word wall as they embrace the power of spine-tingling words!