specter

About 0.99 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun A ghostly apparition, a phantom. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}

   A specter haunted the cemetery at the old Vasquez manor.

2. noun A threatening mental image; an unpleasant prospect

   The specter of an election-vote recount is this year's political bogeyman.

3. noun Any of certain species of dragonfly of the genus Boyeria, family Aeshnidae.
4. noun Any of various species of Asian danaid butterflies of the genus Idea, family Nymphalidae.

Similar words

phantom spectre spook ghost wraith apparition shade spirit fantasy figment

Often followed by

of that is in and was to had which

Word family

specters spectre spectres