eerie

Meaning

Adj

1. Inspiring fear, especially in a mysterious or shadowy way; strange, weird.
2. (Scotland) Frightened, timid.

Noun

An eerie creature or thing.

Noun

Alternative spelling of eyrie.

Synonyms

uncanny

weird

frightening

creepy

strange

eery

spooky

bizarre

odd

ghostly

awful

ghastly

ominous

quaint

queer

dire

scary

grotesque

supernatural

occult

unearthly

intimidating

jittery

macabre

mysterious

mystic

mystical

nasty

nondescript

outlandish

peculiar

quizzical

rum

spectral

startling

superstitious

suspenseful

terrible

terrifying

ungodly

unnerving

weirdly

wraithlike

unheimlich

weirdsome

afraid

hinky

apprehensive

atrocious

awesome

Translations

unheimlich

estranho

griezelig

esquisito

misterioso

étrange

inquiétant

αλλόκοτος

strano

assustador

gruselig

furchterregend

eng

sinistre

misterioso

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɪəɹi/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: eri

Inherited from Old English: earg

Cognate with Scots: argh

In summary

From Middle English eri (“fearful”), from Old English earg (“cowardly, fearful”), from Proto-West Germanic *arg, from Proto-Germanic *argaz. Akin to Scots ergh, argh from the same Old English source. Doublet of argh.