There are many words you can use to describe a haunted house in your horror novel. Here are 10 to help you create a bone-chilling atmosphere!
1. Eerie
Definition
Unearthly, weird; causing a strange, unsettling feeling.
Examples
“The silence in the hospital’s hallway was eerie.”
“The eerie glow of the moonlight streaming through the windows of the hospital made it feel like something was lurking in the shadows.”
How it Adds Definition
The word “eerie” adds a sense of strangeness and unease to the novel, setting the tone for the reader that something is not quite right. It can create an atmosphere of suspense and unease, making the reader feel on edge as they turn each page. It can also suggest that there may be something supernatural or otherworldly happening, adding to the sense of terror in the novel.
2. Spooky
Definition
Jumpy, skittish; causing a feeling of fear or unease.
Examples
“The spooky atmosphere of the hospital gave me a sense that something was stalking me.”
“The sound of the hospital’s elevator creaking and groaning as it descended the old shaft was spooky.”
How it Adds Definition
The word “spooky” adds a sense of fear and unease to the novel. It evokes imagery of dark, creepy environments and the feeling of being watched or followed by something unseen. It can also create a sense of anticipation and unease in the reader, as they wonder what terrifying events may be looming ahead.
3. Creepy
Definition
Haunting, uncanny; unpleasantly annoying.
Examples
“The supposedly haunted hospital was littered with creepy medical devices left behind from nearly a century ago when it had closed.”
“The feeling of being watched made me want to leave the creepy hospital as soon as possible.”
How it Adds Definition
The word “creepy” adds a sense of unease and discomfort to the novel, making the reader feel like something is not quite right. It creates a sense of anticipation and fear, as the reader is unsure of what horrors may be lurking around the corner. It can add a sense of foreboding to the hospital’s atmosphere, making the reader feel like something bad is about to happen.
4. Ghastly
Definition
Horrific, grisly; causing a feeling of fear.
Examples
“The sight of the blood-covered floors in the hospital morgue was ghastly.”
“The ghastly screams that echoed through the halls made it clear that something was not right.”
How it Adds Definition
The word “ghastly” is often used to describe something terrifying. In a novel, it can be used to describe the setting, characters, or events in a way that evokes a sense of dread or unease in the reader. It can also be used to describe a character’s appearance or actions, making them seem more sinister or terrifying.
5. Macabre
Definition
Grotesque, nightmarish; relating to death.
Examples
“The art on the walls of the hospital was macabre, like something out of a nightmare.”
“The macabre scene of the dead bodies lying in the morgue made it clear that something terrible had happened here.”
How it Adds Definition
The word “macabre” adds a sense of eerie and grotesque horror to the novel. It suggests that the events and characters in the story are dark and disturbing, with a focus on death. It can also imply that the novel will have themes of violence, death, and the supernatural, creating an atmosphere of unease and fear for the reader.
6. Sinister
Definition
Ominous, menacing; an evil presence.
Examples
“The sinister aura of the hospital made it feel like something was waiting to harm me.”
“The laughter sounded sinister as it echoed through the halls of the hospital.”
How it Adds Definition
The word sinister adds a sense of ominous and malevolent intent to the novel. It implies that something or someone is dangerous, dark, and potentially evil. It creates a sense of unease and fear in the reader, suggesting that something is lurking in the shadows, waiting to be revealed. It often signals to the reader that something dark and disturbing is about to take place.
7. Ectoplasmic
Definition
Supernatural gel; a substance that makes up ghosts.
Examples
“The ectoplasmic energy in the haunted hospital made me feel uneasy.”
“The ectoplasmic mist lingered in the air of the haunted hospital, reaching out a reach to envelope her.”
How it Adds Definition
The word “ectoplasmic” adds a sense of otherworldly, supernatural elements to a novel. It suggests that the characters are dealing with something beyond the physical realm, possibly a ghost or spirit that is manifesting in a tangible form through a substance called ectoplasm. This implies a sense of physical manifestation and manipulation of the supernatural.
8. Morbid
Definition
Morose, bleak; relating to disease.
Examples
“The morbid visions of a plague persisted as we toured the long disused isolation wing of the hospital.”
“The hospital had a history that included morbid accounts of mass casualties.”
How it Adds Definition
The word “morbid” adds a sense of darkness and death to a horror novel. It suggests that the story will involve themes of decay, rot, and decay. It can also imply that the characters and events in the novel will have a twisted nature that is intense and disturbing in a way that instills fear in the characters and the reader.
9. Chilling
Definition
Unnerving, frightening; feeling of cold terror.
Examples
“They couldn’t shake the chilling feeling of being watched while walking through the hospital.”
“The silence of the hospital was shattered by the chilling screams that seemed to come from all around us.”
How it Adds Definition
The word “chilling” suggests a feeling of coldness and fear that permeates throughout the story, creating a sense of unease and dread in the reader. It also implies that the events in the novel are so terrifying that they make the reader feel physically chilled as if a cold breeze is blowing through their bones.
10. Apparitional
Definition
Poltergeist; specter; a ghostly figure.
Examples
“The apparitional figure that appeared in front of me in the hospital made me question if it was real or not.”
“The energy lingered in my hospital room as if something was trying to communicate with me.”
How it Adds Definition
The word “apparitional” implies that the horror in the novel is not just physical, but also spiritual or paranormal in nature, adding an extra layer of mystery and terror to the story. The word can also create an image of something fleeting and ephemeral, adding to the sense of unease and unpredictability in the novel.