Spooky Words Reference Sheet
Horror Writer's Toolkit • Part 1
Spooky Words Reference Sheet
Adjective Edition
What is an Adjective? A word that describes a person, place, or thing (noun). Example: The creaking door opened into a shadowy attic.
Creepy Sights & Light
pitch-black completely dark
shadowy full of dark shapes
gloomy dim and sad
flickering light flashing on/off
dusty covered in gray dust
eerie weird and unnatural
Spooky Sounds
creaking squeaky wooden sound
silent dead quiet; no sound
howling loud cry of wind/wolf
scraping claws dragging on wall
muffled soft, covered noise
piercing sharp, painful screech
Haunted Places & Weather
abandoned empty; left behind
foggy thick mist in the air
rotting broken down, smelly
freezing icy, bone-chilling cold
crumbling falling into pieces
stormy wild wind and rain
Fear & Physical Reactions
terrified super scared, frozen
shivering shaking from fear
breathless cannot breathe
uneasy feeling in danger
pale white face from shock
helpless unable to escape
Level Up! Swap Boring Words for Spooky Adjectives
scared Use instead: terrified
dark Use instead: pitch-black
old Use instead: abandoned
cold Use instead: freezing
Spooky Words Reference • Page 1 of 2 Turn over for Action Adverbs & Sentence Starters!
Horror Writer's Toolkit • Part 2
Spooky Action Adverbs
Adverb Edition
What is an Adverb? A word that describes how, when, or where an action happens (most end in -ly). Example: The creature crept silently through the door and stared menacingly.
Movement & Creeping
silently making zero noise
slowly inch by scary inch
cautiously carefully; on guard
clumsily tripping and banging
Speaking & Reacting
fearfully shaking with panic
anxiously nervous and worried
wildly out of control
blankly staring with no feeling
Speed & Surprise
suddenly all at once; surprise
frantically in a crazy rush
instantly in a split second
menacingly in a threatening way
Spooky Sentence Builders (Use These in Your Story!)
Fill the blanks with words from Page 1 & 2
1
The [adjective] creature crept [adverb] down the dark hallway.
2
I touched the [adjective] doorknob and turned it [adverb].
3
A [adjective] shadow loomed [adverb] over my bed.
4
"Did you hear that?" I whispered [adverb] into the [adjective] silence.
Horror Writer Checklist:
◻ 2+ spooky adjectives ◻ 1+ spooky adverb ◻ Checked spelling
Spooky Words Reference • Page 2 of 2 Keep this reference handy while writing your scary draft!
