Spooks

SCARES

Frightful surprises that make you jump might share their first letter with a certain holiday.

"Spooks" is a casual term for ghosts or things that frighten people, which directly hints at the answer "SCARES." The word also plays on the idea of spooky things causing fear, making it a straightforward definition clue. Think of how Halloween decorations or ghost stories are meant to scare—it’s the same connection. No hidden tricks here, just a simple link between spooks and the act of scaring.