“Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble!”
– Macbeth by William Shakespeare
It’s that time of year again. The pumpkins are ready to have their faces carved to become Jack O’Lanterns. Children are dressing up as witches and vampires and practising saying ‘Trick or Treat.’ Halloween ghosts and bats hang everywhere as the decorations go up.
Last year I talked about the origins of Halloween in a podcast episode you can find here.
This year I am going to share with you 7 words that you can use beyond Halloween to make your everyday English more vivid, expressive and memorable. These 7 words don’t just belong to the witches, ghosts and goblins but can be used all year round.
Let’s take a peek at them!
1. Eerie
We often hear eerie used to describe something strange and unsettling:
- The graveyard looked eerie in the fog.
But it also works in professional or academic contexts:
- The office was eerily quiet after the project deadline.
- There was an eerie silence in the meeting after that tough question.
Using words like eerie makes your descriptions more vivid and engaging.
2. Haunting
At Halloween, ghosts haunt old houses. But the adjective haunting can mean something that stays with you in a powerful way:
- The singer had a haunting voice.
- Her presentation was haunting. The story was powerful and filled with surprising data.
This is a brilliant word for describing something memorable and impactful in professional English.
3. Unmask
Masks are everywhere at Halloween. But in English, unmask means “to reveal the truth”:
- The investigation unmasked serious problems in the system.
- The journalist unmasked the company’s real challenges.
It’s a strong, professional word that shows honesty and clarity.
4. Spellbound
When witches cast spells, people are spellbound. In English today, it means completely fascinated:
- The audience was spellbound by the speaker’s story.
- The children were spellbound as the teacher read the book.
It’s a positive, expressive word that works beautifully in presentations, interviews, or storytelling.
5. Enchanting
We think of enchantments and magic at Halloween—but enchanting is perfect year-round to describe something truly delightful or captivating:
- The view from the mountain was absolutely enchanting.
- In her interview, she gave an enchanting description of her project’s impact.
It’s a sophisticated, uplifting word that adds warmth and charm to your English, no cauldron required!
6. Bewitching
At Halloween, witches bewitch people—but in everyday English, bewitching means so beautiful, charming, or fascinating that it’s almost magical:
- The dancer gave a bewitching performance.
- Her storytelling was bewitching — no one wanted the meeting to end.
It’s a captivating word that suggests something irresistibly attractive or impressive. Perfect for describing presentations, performances, or ideas that hold attention like a spell!
7. Uncanny
Ghost stories are full of uncanny events but beyond Halloween, uncanny means strangely remarkable or beyond normal understanding:
- He has an uncanny ability to stay calm under pressure.
- The results showed an uncanny similarity between the two studies.
This word adds sophistication when describing something surprisingly accurate, impressive, or mysterious in professional or academic English.
Let’s put them into practice!
Upgrading your vocabulary isn’t about sounding complicated. It’s about sounding clear, confident, and professional.
Here’s your challenge for this week: choose one of these words and use it in a sentence about your own work or studies. For example:
- I gave a very successful presentation that left the team spellbound.
The more you practise words in your own context, the more natural they will feel.
Be sure to check out my Ask Us Anything video on these words to check the pronunciation of these words:
How Intrepid English can help:
At Intrepid English, we help learners like you strengthen their communication skills every day. As a member, you’ll benefit from:
- Monthly 1:1 coaching sessions with Lorraine (goal-setting + accountability)
- Personalised lessons linked to your career and life goals
- A supportive learning community where learners encourage each other
- Human-centred mentorship (no random tutors, no AI matching. Your personal teacher stays with you throughout your journey)
You can start today with a £1 trial lesson, where you’ll receive personalised feedback and a clear action plan for your English goals.