spoopy

English

Etymology

A photograph of a Halloween sign with the misspelled word “spoopy” (for “spooky”), taken in 2009 and originally uploaded to Flickr, was reposted on Tumblr in 2011, upon which the word become an Internet meme and developed its current sense.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /spuːpi/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːpi

Adjective

spoopy (comparative more spoopy, superlative most spoopy)

1. (Internet slang, chiefly humorous) Spooky.
2. (Internet slang) Calling upon horror tropes and concepts in cute, nonthreatening or comical ways.
   • 2016 October 27, Derek Baker, “Your future is foretold in these spooky horror-scopes”, in The Guantlet, page 17:

     To get into the spoopy spirit, you will exclusively listen to the “Spooky Scary Skeletons” trap remix on repeat from now until Halloween.

   • 2018 October 24, Amelia Calautti, “Get goosebumps with 'Netflix and Chills'”, in The Rice Thresher, page 8:

     It's spoopy season — a time for pumpkin carving, trick or treating and “Hocus Pocus” reruns.

   • 2018 October 29, Sara Serrano, “Where have all the cats gone?”, in The Collegian, page 14:

     Unfortunately, tricks, treats and spoopy shenanigans aren't the only things escalating in the runup to Halloween.