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
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
Englund sat down with Newsweek to discuss the film collection release, along with the enduring legacy of his time as the horror icon who has terrorized dreams for over 40 years.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
The series is technically a prequel to 2017's IT and 2019's IT Chapter Two, which were adapted from Stephen King's 1986 epic novel about Derry, Maine, a small town being terrorized by an ancient, child-devouring evil that surfaces every 27 years.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
The group emerged from the janjaweed militia that terrorized Darfur in the early 2000s and was accused of genocide.
—NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrorize
David Smilde, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
Englund sat down with Newsweek to discuss the film collection release, along with the enduring legacy of his time as the horror icon who has terrorized dreams for over 40 years.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
The series is technically a prequel to 2017's IT and 2019's IT Chapter Two, which were adapted from Stephen King's 1986 epic novel about Derry, Maine, a small town being terrorized by an ancient, child-devouring evil that surfaces every 27 years.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
The group emerged from the janjaweed militia that terrorized Darfur in the early 2000s and was accused of genocide.
—NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrorize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorize
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
“Terrorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorize. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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