spoopy

A photograph of a Halloween sign with the misspelled word “spoopy” (for “spooky”), taken in 2009 and originally uploaded to Flickr,^[1] was reposted on Tumblr in 2011, upon which the word become an Internet meme and developed its current sense.^[2]

• (UK) IPA^(key): /spuːpi/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːpi

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.