as in to frighten
to strike with fear
the prospect of speaking in front of a huge crowd of people absolutely terrifies me
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of terrify
In a TikTok video, the bully's owner shared a clip that challenges the breed's aggressive reputation—by showing her dog terrified of her new puppy.
—
Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
The game is twisted, disturbing, and terrifying in all the right ways.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
It is billed as a story about soaring romance, crushing heartbreak and what love might feel like when everyone outside of your family is terrified of you.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
Sponsors, television was terrified of us.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrify
Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
The game is twisted, disturbing, and terrifying in all the right ways.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
It is billed as a story about soaring romance, crushing heartbreak and what love might feel like when everyone outside of your family is terrified of you.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
Sponsors, television was terrified of us.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrify
Verb
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There are liberals in media, but the corporations are now either controlled by the right wing or frightened of it.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
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Notwithstanding the endless parade of ghosts, demons, serial killers and at least one Mothman, Haunted Hotel is mostly not trying to frighten you.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The modus operandi generally involved either scaring a convenience store owner and fleeing with thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes, like one such incident at a 7-Eleven in Walnut Creek where masked men stole $8,000 in tobacco products, authorities said.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
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If someone unexpectedly opens the door to enter the room, a harsh alarm will sound to scare off the intruder—adding an extra layer beyond the hotel’s typical locks.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Sleep may be disturbed by a pet's movements, and dogs may bite if startled.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
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The record-scratch startle that jump-starts the dramatic arc occurs when Eleanor (Squibb) is trying to figure out what to do with herself at a Manhattan Jewish community center after recently relocating from Florida.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrify. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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