phantom

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

So is this an example of what is known as a phantom trend, where fear can end up exacerbating the real-world impact rather than mitigating it?

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

They concluded that the chatbots appropriately identified problematic prompts, like a feeling of being watched by phantom people or feeling personally persecuted by the government, as a developing delusion only about half the time.

From Slate • Feb. 2, 2026

If the 300 billion figure is more phantom than real, it would mean that Venezuelan oil won’t pose nearly as much competition long-term to its closest competitor: Canadian heavy oil.

From Barron's • Jan. 6, 2026

Perhaps this was identity theft, but it’s also possible brokers submitted fake Social Security numbers to enroll ineligible or phantom people in plans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025

But every time my eyes closed, I saw the phantom brakeman with hamburger meat for a face, swinging a ghostly lantern through tree branches like skeletons.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck