the specter of (something)
idiom
: a notion or fear of something bad that might happen in the future
a nation alarmed/haunted by the specter of famine/war
News of the disease raised the specter of a possible plague.
Examples of the specter of (something) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Putin and various Russian officials have frequently raised the specter of nuclear escalation.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile, the industry struggles with financing, regulatory challenges and the specter of illicit markets clinging to high profits and unsubstantiated claims.
—Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
Renewable energy critics still raise the specter of Solyndra, a solar panel manufacturer that filed for bankruptcy in 2011 after receiving a $535-million federal loan.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2025
That raises the specter of a tit-for-tat cycle of escalation.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for the specter of (something) 
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile, the industry struggles with financing, regulatory challenges and the specter of illicit markets clinging to high profits and unsubstantiated claims.
—Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
Renewable energy critics still raise the specter of Solyndra, a solar panel manufacturer that filed for bankruptcy in 2011 after receiving a $535-million federal loan.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2025
That raises the specter of a tit-for-tat cycle of escalation.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for the specter of (something)
Dictionary Entries Near the specter of (something)
Cite this Entry
“The specter of (something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20specter%20of%20%28something%29. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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