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
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
That's not to say there's nothing worth redeeming in this version of the story of a criminal stalking and terrorizing the lawyer who once defended him.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 June 2026
In the film, actress Midori Francis plays Hana, a medical student who becomes terrorized by a sinister force after partaking in the latest dieting fad — eating human ashes.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2026
Sacramento police arrested a 19-year-old Sacramento man Tuesday who allegedly used swastikas to intimidate and terrorize people, authorities said Wednesday.
—Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrorize
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
That's not to say there's nothing worth redeeming in this version of the story of a criminal stalking and terrorizing the lawyer who once defended him.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 June 2026
In the film, actress Midori Francis plays Hana, a medical student who becomes terrorized by a sinister force after partaking in the latest dieting fad — eating human ashes.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2026
Sacramento police arrested a 19-year-old Sacramento man Tuesday who allegedly used swastikas to intimidate and terrorize people, authorities said Wednesday.
—Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 3 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 20 Jun. 2026.
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