eerie

USAGE SUMMARY

'eerie' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something as strange or unsettling in a mysterious way, like a mysterious fog on a moonlit night. For example, you could say "The eerie fog made it difficult to see anything in the darkness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Morricone revolutionised the way music was used in westerns, creating a wild west soundscape of gunshots, eerie whistling, twanging guitars and dissonant harmonicas that matched the unsettling heat and tension of Leone's parched desert landscape, and its heroes and villains, portrayed through long shots and close-up cinematography.

The Guardian - Music

A male hen harrier's silhouette gliding low over the moorland is an eerie sight greatly prized by bird lovers, but the bird is best known for its aerobatic displays of climbing, twisting and rolling, known as sky dancing.

The Guardian

A glowing green disc hovers high in the sky at night, casting an eerie glow over a forest of minarets, cranes and concrete frames that seem to stretch endlessly into the dusty distance, like a vast field of dominoes.

The Guardian - Arts

And once you notice, it's downright eerie to hear the same arguments – about "out-of-touch elites" who don't connect with the tastes of "real people" – coming from the leader of Ukip and a guy who wrote a book called Summa Elvetica: A Casuistry of the Elvish Controversy.

The Guardian - Opinion

As night draws in, the building takes on a different quality: the wards are hushed; the endless corridors feel almost eerie.

The Guardian

Around the random murders, the film hones in on Berlin's melancholy, a landscape of puddles and prostitutes, a silent city – the hush broken by bells or shrieks, the tap-tap of a tool being sharpened, and haunted by the killer's eerie whistling of Grieg's "In the Hall of The Mountain King".

The Guardian - Film

Angela Strassheim's beautiful, eerie photograph, Evidence No 1, is from her series revisiting homes where murders had taken place.

The Guardian - Arts

When Hope Powell's dismissal as manager of the England women's team was announced on Wednesday there was an eerie silence from the current crop of England players.

The Guardian - Sport

With harrowing, unrepentant exactitude it is a year to the weekend that the garish and tearaway business of motor racing was grotesquely freeze-framed into an eerie Pompeian stillness the moment its champion of cold-eyed invincibility and single-minded grandeur Ayrton Senna died in a 190mph crash in the name of sport.

The Guardian - Sport

Walking down through Algiers from the Casbah is an eerie experience.

The Guardian

And who could ever forget, once heard, the plangent and eerie high unaccompanied bassoon solo with which the piece opens?

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eerie" to describe atmospheres, sounds, or sights that evoke a sense of unease, mystery, or slight fear. It's particularly effective when hinting at something supernatural or unexplained.

Common error

Avoid using "eerie" in overly predictable situations like describing haunted houses or dark forests. Instead, strive for more originality by employing it in unexpected scenarios to amplify its impact.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "eerie" primarily functions as an attributive adjective, modifying nouns to describe something strange, unsettling, and often fear-inspiring. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is both correct and commonly found in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Arts

25%

Travel

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "eerie" is a versatile adjective used to describe something strange, unsettling, and often fear-inspiring. As highlighted by Ludwig, its correct usage and common occurrence across various contexts, particularly in news, arts, and travel, make it a valuable term for evoking mystery and unease. Remember to use it thoughtfully to avoid clichés and maximize its impact. Ludwig AI confirms the word's validity and usability, further reinforcing its place in effective written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsettling

Implies a disturbance of peace or comfort, focusing on the feeling of being disturbed.

creepy

Suggests a disturbing and unpleasant feeling, often associated with fear or disgust.

spooky

Implies a connection to ghosts or the supernatural, often associated with Halloween.

uncanny

Suggests something strangely familiar or mysterious, often causing a feeling of unease.

unnatural

Implies a deviation from what is considered normal or expected in nature.

mysterious

Suggests something unknown or difficult to understand, often intriguing and captivating.

surreal

Suggests a dreamlike or bizarre quality, often characterized by illogical juxtapositions.

ominous

Implies a sense of impending danger or misfortune, creating a feeling of foreboding.

haunting

Suggests a lingering presence or memory, often evoking feelings of sadness or longing.

weird

A more general term for something strange or unusual, lacking the intensity of "eerie".

FAQs

How can I use "eerie" in a sentence?

You can use "eerie" to describe something that is strange and unsettling, such as "The abandoned house had an "eerie" silence".

What words are similar to "eerie"?

Similar words include "spooky", "creepy", "unsettling", and "uncanny", each carrying slightly different connotations of strangeness and unease.

What's the difference between "eerie" and "creepy"?

"Eerie" often suggests a sense of mystery and the unknown, while "creepy" usually implies a more direct feeling of disgust or fear.

Can "eerie" be used to describe a person?

While less common, "eerie" can describe a person's behavior or demeanor if it creates a strange and unsettling feeling. It's more frequently used to describe places, sounds or atmospheres.