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
Ritter plays Claire, a struggling single mother battling addiction, as a malevolent creature that feeds on despair begins to terrorize her and her two sons.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025
Adams described the attack as deliberate and that Koehler intended to terrorize the victim.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Security analyst Nnamdi Obasi, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group think tank, explained that while extremist groups have wreaked havoc against both Christians and Muslims in the northeast of Nigeria, bandit groups have terrorized predominantly Muslim communities in the northwest.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
But the idea of Maduro as the head of a criminal enterprise terrorizing the United States has allowed Rubio to repackage military action against Venezuela as an anti-narcotics campaign.
—David Smilde, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrorize
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025
Adams described the attack as deliberate and that Koehler intended to terrorize the victim.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Security analyst Nnamdi Obasi, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group think tank, explained that while extremist groups have wreaked havoc against both Christians and Muslims in the northeast of Nigeria, bandit groups have terrorized predominantly Muslim communities in the northwest.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
But the idea of Maduro as the head of a criminal enterprise terrorizing the United States has allowed Rubio to repackage military action against Venezuela as an anti-narcotics campaign.
—David Smilde, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrorize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorize
Verb
-
These political executions are a callous attempt by the authorities to frighten and silence an increasingly restive population no longer willing to accept their corrupt and oppressive rule.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Tens of millions of dollars have been spent to redefine reality and to convince our neighbors that this new age is something that should frighten them.—
TIME Video,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Still, the company faces the same existential headwinds that have scared other would-be moguls away from the news business.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Skinner has gone to back-to-back Cup Finals, but the volatility in his game probably scares decision-makers.—
Chris Johnston,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Everyone was terrified of Friedkin.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
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Trump is terrified of the midterms, of Republicans losing control of the House or the Senate or both.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
His ability to perceive her internal struggles startled the standup.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
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The boy looked up mid-sob, startled.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terrorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorize. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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