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wraithlike

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Word: Wraithlike

Part of Speech: Adjective

Meaning: The word "wraithlike" describes something that is ghostly or spirit-like. It refers to something that seems very thin, shadowy, or insubstantial, almost like a ghost or an apparition.

Basic Explanation:
  • Lacking Substance: When something is wraithlike, it doesn't have a solid form. Imagine a ghost that you can see, but it feels like it could disappear at any moment.
  • Strange and Shadowy: It often gives an eerie or mysterious feeling, as if it belongs to a world that is not quite real.
Usage Instructions:
  • You can use "wraithlike" to describe people, objects, or even feelings that seem ethereal or not fully present.
  • It is often used in literature, poetry, or when describing art to evoke a certain mood or imagery.
Example Sentence:
  • "The wraithlike figure moved silently through the mist, hardly leaving a trace behind."
Advanced Usage:
  • In literature, authors may use "wraithlike" to create a sense of mystery or to describe characters that seem distant or disconnected from reality. For example, in a story about a haunted house, the ghosts might be described as wraithlike to emphasize their elusive nature.
Word Variants:
  • Wraith (noun): A ghost or spirit, often one that is seen as a harbinger of death.
  • Wraithliness (noun): The quality of being wraithlike; ghostliness or insubstantiality.
Different Meanings:
  • While "wraithlike" primarily refers to ghostly appearances, it can also describe things that feel insubstantial in a more abstract sense, like ideas or emotions that lack depth or clarity.
Synonyms:
  • Ghostly
  • Ethereal
  • Shadowy
  • Spectral
  • Insipid (in certain contexts)
Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
  • "In the shadows": Referring to something that is hidden or not easily seen, similar to a wraithlike presence.
  • "A shadow of a doubt": Although not directly related, this phrase captures the essence of uncertainty and insubstantiality, akin to something wraithlike.
Summary:

"Wraithlike" is an adjective that paints a picture of something ghostly, thin, and insubstantial. It evokes feelings of mystery and eeriness, making it a powerful word for creative writing and descriptions.

Adjective
  1. lacking in substance
    • strange fancies of unreal and shadowy worlds- W.A.Butler
    • dim shadowy forms
    • a wraithlike column of smoke

Synonyms

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