as in to frighten
to strike with fear
the old black-and-white psychological thriller still horrifies audiences
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Recent Examples of horrify
Family members of Kinman’s biological father said in a statement that they were horrified at the news.
—
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025
Visitors, many from other countries, would be horrified by such industrialization of these world-class destinations.
—Stephen Trimble, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
To their credit, the Young Republicans organization issued a strong denouncement of the comments, although I was horrified by reading the online responses to it.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 19 Oct. 2025
The visage, created by Universal Studio’s then-lead makeup artist Jack Pierce for the 1931 film, was horrifying enough that its influence endured for almost 100 years.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for horrify
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025
Visitors, many from other countries, would be horrified by such industrialization of these world-class destinations.
—Stephen Trimble, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
To their credit, the Young Republicans organization issued a strong denouncement of the comments, although I was horrified by reading the online responses to it.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 19 Oct. 2025
The visage, created by Universal Studio’s then-lead makeup artist Jack Pierce for the 1931 film, was horrifying enough that its influence endured for almost 100 years.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for horrify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrify
Verb
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When the Maitlands' attempts to frighten the Deetzes away fail miserably, Barbara and Adam turn to the mysterious and mischievous Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) to rid them of the living.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
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Around 100 pairs were found abandoned on the roof, perhaps due to the thieves being frightened away, Sheriff John Budensiek said at the news conference.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That’s something that scares me a little bit about not just theater, but people giving any opinions about any business.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
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Allow your emotions, even the ones that scare you, to come and go without judgment.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Here's why some people are terrified of clusters of holesNeed a news break?—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
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From slasher homages like Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue to esoteric but no less worthy films like Belladonna of Sadness, these works possess a power to shock and terrify.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Across America, Halloween spending is expected to reach record levels this year, including large crowds waiting for their chance to be chased, startled and screamed at.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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White disappears completely into the role without skirting parody, portraying the exhausted hitmaker as startled by his own numbness, blanked out and unsure of what to do next.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrify. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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