Eerie

Eerie is an adjective used to describe experiences, places, or objects that produce fear, unease, or dread, often through the suggestion of the mysterious, strange, or supernatural. An eerie atmosphere tends to be quiet or still, with elements of the ordinary rendered strange or inexplicable, such as an empty house, a fog-enshrouded street, or an unfamiliar sound that cannot be easily identified. The term can also apply to phenomena that are uncanny but not explicitly threatening.

Etymology: The word emerged in English from Scottish usage in the early modern period, related to the sense of fear or dread. It is connected to older forms such as eerie/eery and is often used to describe mood, rather than explicit danger.

In literature and film, eerie atmospheres are a common tool in Gothic and horror genres, used to suggest danger or the presence of something beyond ordinary explanation without showing it directly. The term is generally milder than terms like terrifying or horrifying, invoking a suspenseful or unsettling mood rather than active violence.

Differences from similar terms: Uncanny describes something that is strangely familiar yet alien, often triggering a cognitive dissonance; spooky is informal and broader; haunting emphasizes persistence and memory.

See also: Uncanny, Haunted, Gothic fiction, Atmospheric horror.