Consider 'phantom', 'shadowy', and 'abandoned'. A 'phantom' is often a ghost - like figure that can appear and disappear mysteriously. 'Shadowy' can be used to describe a figure or place that is not fully visible, adding an element of mystery and fear. 'Abandoned' places in stories are often scary because they are empty and might hold secrets or be a haven for something dangerous.
Words like 'cursed', 'macabre', and 'sinister' are also good. 'Cursed' implies that something is under a spell or has a negative power over it. 'Macabre' is related to death and the gruesome aspects of it. For example, a macabre scene could be a graveyard with bones scattered around. 'Sinister' gives the feeling that there is something evil or malicious lurking.
Some scary words could be 'haunted', 'gloomy', and 'eerie'. 'Haunted' immediately makes one think of a place filled with ghosts or other supernatural entities. 'Gloomy' gives a sense of darkness and sadness, often associated with foreboding. 'Eerie' is great for creating an atmosphere that is strange and makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
Words like 'eerie', 'macabre', and 'sinister' are also good. 'Eerie' describes a feeling of unease and strangeness. For example, an eerie silence in a dark forest. 'Macabre' is related to death and the gruesome. You could use it to describe a macabre scene in a cemetery. 'Sinister' suggests an evil or malicious intent, like a sinister figure lurking in the shadows.
Words like 'gloom', 'eerie', and 'creepy' are great. 'Gloom' can set a dark and depressing mood. 'Eerie' gives that feeling of something not quite right, like an empty old house at night. 'Creepy' is very common and makes the reader or listener immediately feel a sense of unease.
Take the words 'eerie', 'mysterious', 'cursed'. Well, in a small village, there was a mysterious well. It was known to be cursed. The villagers were always afraid to go near it. One day, a curious boy decided to explore it. As he peered into the well, an eerie feeling came over him. The water seemed to be black and bottomless. He heard a whisper, as if something was calling his name from the depths. His body froze with fear, realizing he might have made a big mistake by coming so close to the cursed well.
If it's a haunted house scenario, use words like 'creak' for the doors. 'The old door creaked ominously as I pushed it open.' And 'ghostly' for the apparitions. 'A ghostly figure floated down the corridor.'
Some great words could be 'eerie', 'gloomy', 'haunting'. They create that spooky atmosphere.
Words such as 'ominous', 'forbidding', and 'sinister' work well. 'Ominous' gives the feeling that something bad is about to happen, like an ominous cloud on the horizon. 'Forbidding' makes a place or situation seem unwelcoming and dangerous. 'Sinister' implies evil or malevolence, for example, a sinister figure in a dark alley.
Use the words to set the mood. For example, if 'foggy' is in the list, start with 'The foggy night made it hard to see.'. Then add a character like 'A lone man was walking'. And introduce something scary using another word like 'dread'. 'He felt a sense of dread as he walked.'.
Well, incorporate words such as 'haunted', 'shadowy' and 'dread'. Suppose your story is about a forest, you could say 'The shadowy forest held a deep, hidden dread that seemed to seep into my very bones.' These words help create a spooky atmosphere. Also, use words like 'cursed' to add an element of mystery and danger. For instance, 'The cursed amulet glowed menacingly in the moonlight.'
Use them sparingly. If you overuse scary words, they lose their impact. For example, instead of saying 'the very creepy, very eerie house', say 'the eerie house'. Also, place them at key moments. When you want to build tension, drop in a word like 'ominous'.
Eerie, creepy, and spooky are great adjectives for a scary story. 'Eerie' gives a sense of something strange and unsettling. For example, an eerie silence can be very frightening. 'Creepy' implies a feeling that makes your skin crawl, like a creepy old house with creaking floors. 'Spooky' is more general, creating an overall atmosphere of fear, like a spooky forest at night.