haunted
/'hɔ:ntid/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Inhabited by or as if by ghosts or spirits: Used to describe a place believed to be frequented by supernatural apparitions.
- Showing emotional distress or preoccupation: Used to describe a person's appearance, expression, or demeanor that reveals deep anxiety, worry, or obsession.
- Persistently and disturbingly preoccupied with something: Describing a mind or thoughts that are constantly troubled or obsessed by a particular subject, memory, or feeling.
Usage Examples
- Describing a place:
- Describing a person's appearance:
- Describing a preoccupied mind:
Advanced Usage
- "haunted by": This is the most common collocation, indicating the specific source of the preoccupation or fear.
- "haunted expression/look": A fixed phrase to describe a face showing deep distress.
Variants and Related Words
- Haunt (verb): To inhabit or visit as a ghost; to recur persistently to the mind of someone.
- Haunting (adjective): Beautiful or sad in a way that is difficult to forget; evocative.
Synonyms
- Ghostly: Resembling or characteristic of a ghost.
- Tormented: Experiencing or characterized by severe suffering or anxiety.
- Obsessed: Preoccupied with a single emotion or idea to a troubling extent.
- Preoccupied: Absorbed in thought; distracted.
Related Phrases
- Haunted house: A house believed to be inhabited by ghosts. This is also a common attraction (a "haunted house") during Halloween.
- Haunted past: A past filled with disturbing or traumatic memories that continue to affect someone.
Adjective
- inhabited by or as if by apparitions
- a haunted house
- showing emotional affliction or disquiet
- her expression became progressively more haunted
- having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
- became more and more haunted by the stupid riddle
- was absolutely obsessed with the girl
- got no help from his wife who was preoccupied with the children
- he was taken up in worry for the old woman