as in to frighten
to strike with fear
thunderstorms terrorize our cats, who all scamper downstairs when lightning flashes
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Recent Examples of terrorize
On May 21, 2024, Feyock and Ahmet Korkaya, another defendant in the case, allegedly agreed to kill, torment and terrorize their targets and their families, according to the indictment.
—
James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
When a group went to smoke marijuana in the parking lot of the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, two of the people were kidnapped at gunpoint and terrorized with a blowtorch and pliers, a federal complaint said.
—Sofia Saric
june 11, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
So maybe a side trip to Joel and Tommy terrorizing the countryside.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
This sideways prequel takes it back to the beginning, where these alien creatures terrorize a New York City ill-prepared to fight back.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrorize
James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
When a group went to smoke marijuana in the parking lot of the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, two of the people were kidnapped at gunpoint and terrorized with a blowtorch and pliers, a federal complaint said.
—Sofia Saric
june 11, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
So maybe a side trip to Joel and Tommy terrorizing the countryside.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
This sideways prequel takes it back to the beginning, where these alien creatures terrorize a New York City ill-prepared to fight back.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrorize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorize
Verb
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But her outbursts frightened the children too.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
-
What frightened me most was what might happen to my children.—
Monica Rodriguez-Aguilera,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2026
Verb
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City Council should refuse to be intimidated and not let Webb scare them from using it to help Chicago and its citizens.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
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That's not a company that needs to scare off millions of loyal customers with a brutal price rise.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The safety is what unlocks the willingness to be terrified, and the terror is where the thrill lives.—
Dr. Marcus Collins,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
They were terrified of that song.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Verb
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While the cameras were rolling, Spielberg would stand just out of frame with two wooden bats, banging them together to startle her.—
Seija Rankin,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2026
-
To his luck, the sound finally startled the bear and sent it running.—
Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorize. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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