Wraith – Word of the Day for IELTS Speaking & Writing

Expanding your IELTS vocabulary with vivid and expressive words can significantly enhance your Lexical Resource score. Today’s word, “Wraith,” is particularly useful when describing ghostly appearances, insubstantial forms, or metaphorical representations of weakness and frailty in both IELTS Speaking and Writing tasks.

Meaning of “Wraith”

Part of Speech:

• Noun – A ghost or spectral image, often seen around the time of death; a faint or barely visible form or substance.
• Adjective (wraithlike) – Ghostly, thin, or barely visible in appearance.

Origin and History of the Word

The word wraith first appeared in 1513 in a Scots translation of Virgil’s Aeneid. Its exact origin is uncertain, though it may be linked to Old Norse vörðr (meaning "guardian spirit") or Gaelic arrach (meaning "apparition"). Over time, it evolved to refer to any ghostly or pale, insubstantial presence.

How to Use “Wraith” in IELTS Speaking & Writing?

This word is especially useful in storytelling (IELTS Speaking Part 2), descriptions (IELTS Speaking Part 3), or metaphorical writing (IELTS Writing Task 2) when referring to frailty, fear, or ethereal presence.  

1. Noun – Wraith

Used to describe a ghost, apparition, or someone so thin or pale they resemble a ghost.

Examples:

1. Heart attacks had reduced his mother to a wraith.
2. I saw a wraith of my deceased father one night. I couldn’t sleep a wink after that.
3. Legend has it, the wraith of the murdered princess roams the fortress every year on the night of her death, looking for the man who can restore her honour.
4. If you want to interpret your repeated sighting of that wraith, you could always meet the witch on West 81st street.

2. Adjective – Wraithlike

Used to describe something thin, ghostlike, or barely visible.

Examples:

1. A wraithlike figure drifted silently across the misty field.
2. The candlelight revealed a wraithlike shadow on the wall.
3. She appeared in a wraithlike gown, pale and silent.
4. A wraithlike trail of fog curled through the valley.
5. His wraithlike form haunted my dreams for days.

IELTS Tip

Use “wraith” or “wraithlike” in IELTS Writing Task 2 when discussing topics like mental health, illness, urban legends, or literature. In IELTS Speaking Part 2, it adds creativity and vivid imagery to storytelling or describing places and events. It’s especially useful in cue cards like “Describe a scary experience” or “Describe a story you’ve read.”

Synonyms for “Wraith”

• Apparition
• Ghost
• Phantom
• Spirit
• Specter
• Shade
• Shadow
• Vision
• Illusion
• Poltergeist

Sample IELTS Speaking Answer using “Wraith”

Use in: IELTS Speaking Part 2 (Describe a scary experience)

Q: Describe a scary experience you had.
A: One night, while walking back home, I thought I saw a wraith standing near the streetlamp. It looked exactly like my late uncle. I froze in fear, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Sample IELTS Writing Sentence using “Wraithlike”

Use in: IELTS Writing Task 2 (Discussing mental or physical deterioration)

Due to prolonged stress and lack of rest, he turned into a wraithlike figure, struggling to manage even the simplest daily tasks.

Incorporating expressive and descriptive words like “wraith” in your IELTS Speaking and Writing tasks can significantly boost your Lexical Resource band score. Whether you’re narrating eerie experiences, discussing human fragility, or describing emotional or physical decline, this word adds atmosphere and precision. Practice using its noun and adjective forms in real contexts to enhance fluency and vocabulary range. 

If you're aiming for top IELTS Band Score, follow the IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+ to further enhance your vocabulary and overall test performance.

Also Check: 

• 21+ Tips On How to Improve Your IELTS Writing Band Score
• 10 Useful IELTS Speaking Tips to Impress the Examiner
• Useful Idioms for IELTS Speaking to Score Band 8.0+
• Linking words for IELTS Speaking Section
• IELTS Pronunciation Guide 2025
• 75+ Common English Words Used in IELTS Speaking Test