dismay, appall, horrify, daunt mean to unnerve or deter by arousing fear, apprehension, or aversion.
dismay implies that one is disconcerted and at a loss as to how to deal with something.
dismayed at the size of the job
appall implies that one is faced with that which perturbs, confounds, or shocks.
I am appalled by your behavior
horrify stresses a reaction of horror or revulsion.
was horrified by such wanton cruelty
daunt suggests a cowing, disheartening, or frightening in a venture requiring courage.
a cliff that would daunt the most intrepid climber
Examples of horrify in a Sentence
The details of the crime horrified the nation.
They were horrified by the movie's violence.
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The dog's sorrowful face captured attention online, as internet users were horrified at what happened to such an old pup.—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025 In 2020, the world was horrified by images of refugee children separated from their families and caged at the southern border.—Literary Hub, 26 June 2025 Americans were horrified when Tufts University doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk was approached by a group of unidentified, armed, masked immigration officers and taken into custody in March.—Edwin C. Yohnka, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025 The attack, the latest in a wave of antisemitic violence that has stretched from coast to coast, has further horrified the Jewish community.—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for horrify
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