spooks
Phantoms or agents
Spooks works across several meanings united by the idea of unseen presences.
A spook is a ghost or specter: The old house is full of spooks.
To spook is to frighten suddenly, especially said of horses: A car backfiring spooked the mare.
People get spooked too: Don't sneak up on me—you spooked me.
In slang, spooks are spies or intelligence agents, from their shadowy work.
As a racial slur for Black people, spook is offensive and dated.
Those who act for others
- operativesThose who execute missions
- molesBurrowing insectivore mammals
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- covertIntentionally concealed
surveillance · tradecraft · dead-drop · handler · asset · informant · sleeper · counterintelligence
Frighten suddenly
- scareCause sudden fright
- terrifyCause extreme fright
- alarmUrgent warning signal
- unnerveDisturb someone's composure
rattle · jolt · shock · fright · panic · jumpscare · boo · freak-out
Disturbingly strange
- uncannyEerily beyond normal
- macabreDisturbing, death-obsessed
- sinisterThreateningly suggestive of harm
- chillingCausing fear or cold
ominous · foreboding · unnerving · mysterious · shadowy · ghostly · haunted · supernatural
U.S. foreign intelligence service
- NSAFederal cryptologic intelligence agency
- MI6UK espionage agency
- MI5British domestic intelligence agency
- KGBUSSR intelligence service
Mossad · FBI · SIGINT · HUMINT · Langley · intelligence · classified · briefing
Visible supernatural manifestation
- phantomInsubstantial apparition
- poltergeistDisruptive supernatural entity
- specterGhostly threatening presence
- wraithSpectral apparition of someone
banshee · revenant · shade · spirit · haunting · paranormal · supernatural · ethereal
agents
Those who act for others
- operativesThose who execute missions
- molesBurrowing insectivore mammals
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
covert · surveillance · tradecraft · dead-drop · handler · asset · informant · sleeper · counterintelligence · sabotage
startle
Frighten suddenly
unnerve · rattle · jolt · shock · fright · panic · jumpscare · boo · freak-out · haunt
creepy
Disturbingly strange
- uncannyEerily beyond normal
- macabreDisturbing, death-obsessed
- sinisterThreateningly suggestive of harm
chilling · ominous · foreboding · unnerving · mysterious · shadowy · ghostly · haunted · supernatural · spine-tingling
CIA
U.S. foreign intelligence service
- NSAFederal cryptologic intelligence agency
- MI6UK espionage agency
- MI5British domestic intelligence agency
KGB · Mossad · FBI · SIGINT · HUMINT · Langley · intelligence · classified · briefing · analyst
apparition
Visible supernatural manifestation
- phantomInsubstantial apparition
- poltergeistDisruptive supernatural entity
- specterGhostly threatening presence
wraith · banshee · revenant · shade · spirit · haunting · paranormal · supernatural · ethereal · séance
shy
Reserved and retiring
skittish · jumpy · rear · panic · frighten · whinny · canter · rider · trail · equine
- ghostsapparitions, ghosts, apparition, phantoms, specter
- apparitionsghosts, phantoms, specters, wraiths, shades
- night terrorsnightmares, bogeymen, sleep paralysis, ghosts, phantoms
spookscomforters
Padded bed coverings
guardian angels · soothers · protectors · reassurances · tranquilizers
- spooky stories
- spooky seasonAutumn's eerie celebration period
- spook outCause unease or fear
- spooked out
spooky, spook, spooked, spookier, spooking, spookily, spookiness, spookiest