horrify

verb

hor·​ri·​fy ˈhȯr-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce horrify (audio)
ˈhär-
horrified; horrifying

transitive verb

1
: to cause to feel horror
2
: to fill with distaste : shock
horrifyingly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for horrify

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Word History

Etymology

probably from horri(fic) + -fy

Note: Given the late appearance of the word, it is most likely not a borrowing from Latin horrificāre "to ruffle the surface of, frighten, terrify."

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of horrify was in 1791

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Horrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horrify. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

horrify

verb
hor·​ri·​fy ˈhȯr-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce horrify (audio)
ˈhär-
horrified; horrifying
: to cause to feel horror

More from Merriam-Webster on horrify

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