Horror Fiction Terms

noun an unusual or unexpected sight

• The townspeople claimed to have seen a mysterious apparition in the old abandoned mansion.
• I swear I saw a weird apparition last night while walking home.
• Dude, did you see that spooky apparition in the graveyard?
• The success of the new technology was like an apparition in the competitive market.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'looking' is a noun that refers to the act of directing one's gaze in a particular direction.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'evil looking' describes the noun it is referring to as having a malevolent or sinister appearance.

• The evil looking man stood at the entrance of the dark alleyway.
• I saw this really evil looking dude hanging around the corner.
• That evil looking guy gives me the creeps.
• The storm clouds gathered overhead, casting an evil looking shadow over the town.

noun a legendary evil being that robs graves and feeds on dead bodies

• The legend of the ghoul has been passed down through generations.
• I heard a spooky story about a ghoul in the old cemetery.
• That movie was full of ghouls and ghosts, it gave me the creeps.
• The negative comments online were like ghouls attacking her reputation.

noun In Hindu mythology, a type of demon or evil spirit that haunts cremation grounds and feeds on human flesh.

• The pishacha is a malevolent spirit in Hindu mythology.
• I heard a spooky story about a pishacha haunting the old graveyard.
• Don't be scared, it's just a bunch of pishachas messing around.
• The negative thoughts in his mind were like pishachas, feeding on his fears and doubts.

noun the burial of someone alive

• The practice of vivisepulture was once common among certain ancient civilizations.
• I heard a spooky story about vivisepulture happening in that old cemetery.
• That movie was so scary, it felt like a scene straight out of a vivisepulture nightmare.
• Being stuck in a toxic relationship can feel like a form of emotional vivisepulture.

noun a person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead

• The revenant was said to have returned from the dead to seek revenge on those who wronged him.
• I heard a spooky story about a revenant haunting the old graveyard down the road.
• Dude, that movie was so scary, it felt like I was watching a bunch of revenants running around.
• The old building stood like a revenant of the past, reminding us of a time long gone.