horror

¹hor·ror

noun \ˈhȯr-ər, ˈhär-\

Definition of HORROR

1

a : painful and intense fear, dread, or dismay <astonishment giving place to horror on the faces of the people about me — H. G. Wells> b : intense aversion or repugnance

2

a : the quality of inspiring horror : repulsive, horrible, or dismal quality or character <contemplating the horror of their lives — Liam O'Flaherty> b : something that inspires horror

3

plural : a state of extreme depression or apprehension

Examples of HORROR

1. There was a look of horror on her face.
2. The crowd watched in horror as the fire spread.
3. His friends were shocked by the horror of his death.
4. His crimes were unspeakable horrors.
5. His memoirs recount the horrors of the war.

Origin of HORROR

Middle English horrour, from Anglo-French *orur, from Latin horror action of bristling, from horrēre to bristle, shiver; akin to Sanskrit harṣate he is excited

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to HORROR

Synonyms: atrociousness, atrocity, awfulness, dreadfulness, frightfulness, ghastliness, grisliness, gruesomeness, hideousness, horridness, monstrosity, repulsiveness

Antonyms: heaven, paradise

Related Words: badness, baseness, depravedness, depravity, diabolicalness, evil, evilness, foulness, heinousness, immorality, iniquitousness, iniquity, invidiousness, sinfulness, ungodliness, viciousness, vileness, wickedness; accursedness, cursedness, deplorableness, despicableness, detestableness, execrableness, hatefulness, loathsomeness, reprehensibleness; creepiness, eeriness, fearfulness, fearsomeness, ghostliness, ghoulishness, scariness; agony, anguish, hellishness, misery, torment, torture

Near Antonyms: agreeableness, delightfulness, pleasantness, pleasurableness; allurement, appeal, attraction, attractiveness, desirability, desirableness

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Rhymes with HORROR

borer, corer, floorer, pourer, roarer, scorer, schnorrer, snorer, soarer