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Exploring the unnerving charm: "eerie" vs. "uncanny"

Reviewed and edited by Lloyd Cooper 29/09/2024, 17:03
English.me team member
Eerie and uncanny. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both "eerie" and "uncanny" describe something that is strange or unsettling, often invoking a feeling of unease.

What is different?

Eerie typically refers to a spooky atmosphere, often with a focus on a sense of supernatural or mysteriousness. Uncanny often implies a deeper, almost paradoxical or inexplicable oddity, sometimes related to something familiar made strange.

Which one is more common?

Internet search results for eerie) and uncanny

Examples of usage

Eerie
  • The abandoned house at the end of the street had an eerie silence about it.
  • An eerie mist rose from the old graveyard as night fell.
Uncanny
  • Her resemblance to the late actress was uncanny.
  • There was an uncanny similarity between the two unrelated stories.

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