eldritch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "eldritch" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something eerie, supernatural, or otherworldly, often in a literary or horror context. Example: "The forest was filled with an eldritch atmosphere that sent shivers down my spine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

But these days the escapism they offer may be tinged with an eldritch sense of recognition.

The Economist

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which maintains its original popularity and even notoriety, has in overplus the traditional Gothic ingredients, with its weird God-defying experiments, its eldritch shrieks, and, above all, its monster.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The new owner, Callie Shaw, investigates the eldritch history of her purchase and makes a startling discovery in the under-visited servants' quarters at the rear of the house.

Independent

As bees bizz out wi' angry fyke,  When plundering herds assail their byke;  As open pussie's mortal foes,  When, pop! she starts before their nose;  As eager runs the market-crowd,  When "Catch the thief!" resounds aloud;  So Maggie runs, the witches follow,  Wi' mony an eldritch skriech and hollo.

Independent

The diseased town of Yharnam, with its blood-slicked cobblestones, flickering oil lamps, and spindly iron fencing, is inhabited by assorted eldritch monsters — rabid Dobermans, hoe-wielding peasants, fat Hitchcockian crows — which you attack using a Victorian blade-cum-blunderbuss.

The New Yorker

And she sang for him, ancient dirges at first, and eldritch hymns to the moon, but he didn't like those, and Oberon suggested that she learn some music more familiar to him.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Eldritch Swan, who was mixed up in an art theft executed under cover of the London blitz, spent 36 years in an Irish prison for a more serious political crime of which he refuses to speak.

The New York Times

In such novels as Time out of Joint (1959), The Man in the High Castle (1962; Hugo Award winner; television series 2015– ), and The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch (1965), the protagonists must determine their own orientation in an "alternate world".

Encyclopedia Britannica

It's in "The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch," two years later, that his style explodes.

The New Yorker

Four of the sixties novels are neatly packed together in the handsome black covers: "The Man in the High Castle," "The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch," "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" (the original of "Blade Runner"), and his masterpiece, "Ubik".

The New Yorker

Mr. Dick, who died in 1982 at 53, was best known for existential science-fiction novels like "The Man in the High Castle," "The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch" and "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" He also spent years wrestling with what he considered to be religious visions, which he began experiencing in the 1970s.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eldritch" sparingly to maintain its impact. Overuse can dilute its effect and make your writing seem overly dramatic or cliché.

Common error

Avoid using "eldritch" to simply describe something strange or unusual. Its core meaning involves a connection to the supernatural, eerie, or unearthly. Use "uncanny" or "weird" instead.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "eldritch" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something with an unearthly, supernatural, or eerie quality. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "eldritch" describes something unearthly, supernatural, or eerie. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and indicates its common usage, especially in News & Media. While alternatives like "uncanny" or "eerie" exist, "eldritch" specifically implies a supernatural connection. Employ this word to create mystery and unease sparingly to maintain its impact. It is more appropriate for written works rather than everyday conversation. Always keep in mind that this is an adjective related to supernatural events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uncanny

Focuses on the unsettling strangeness or unfamiliarity.

eerie

Emphasizes a sense of mystery and unease.

supernatural

Directly implies forces beyond the natural world.

otherworldly

Suggests something belonging to another realm or dimension.

preternatural

Highlights abilities or phenomena that exceed what is normal.

unearthly

Implies something not of this earth or world.

spectral

Relates to ghosts or apparitions.

mysterious

Indicates a sense of intrigue and the unknown.

weird

Describes something strikingly odd or unusual.

ghastly

Suggests something shockingly frightful or horrific.

FAQs

How to use "eldritch" in a sentence?

Use "eldritch" to describe something eerie, supernatural, or otherworldly. For example: "The forest was filled with an "eldritch" atmosphere that sent shivers down my spine."

What can I say instead of "eldritch"?

You can use alternatives like "uncanny", "eerie", or "supernatural" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "eldritch" a positive or negative word?

"Eldritch" generally carries a negative connotation, implying something unsettling, sinister, or frightening due to its supernatural or otherworldly nature. However, in some contexts, it can simply denote something strange or mysterious without necessarily being negative.

What is the difference between "eldritch" and "eerie"?

"Eerie" describes something unsettling or strange, while "eldritch" specifically implies a supernatural or otherworldly eeriness. "Eldritch" suggests a deeper, more profound connection to the unknown and often carries a stronger sense of unease.