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night terror
noun
: a sudden awakening in dazed terror that occurs in children during slow-wave sleep, is often preceded by a sudden shrill cry uttered in sleep, and is not remembered when the child awakes
—usually used in plural
Examples of night terror in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s an earlier scene in the movie where Margaret’s having a night terror or vision, and this voice comes in and starts parroting her and mimicking her or speaking alongside her.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2024
Grab your crucifix and watch out for night terrors: Evil is returning.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 11 May 2023
Common symptoms of night terrors include heavy breathing, screaming, sweating, and thrashing movements.
—Mara Betsch, Health, 10 June 2023
As the drugs and adrenaline wore off, doctors said, there were night terrors, anxiety attacks, tantrums.
—Shira Rubin, Washington Post, 15 Jan. 2024
Many children are showing clear signs of trauma, including night terrors, said Nida Zaeem, a mental health field officer with the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza.
—Raja Abdulrahim Yousef Masoud, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023
But no amount of drink can dispel the night terrors of sharp teeth; no woman can erase his childhood sweetheart from his mind.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 29 Sep. 2023
Try to keep your child in bed during a night terror.
—David Metzger, Parents, 19 Aug. 2023
Unlike nightmares, people with night terrors remain asleep and rarely remember their dreams the next day.
—Mara Betsch, Health, 10 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'night terror.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1889, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near night terror
Cite this Entry
“Night terror.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/night%20terror. Accessed 24 May. 2024.
Medical Definition
night terror
noun
night ter·ror
-ˈter-ər
: a sudden awakening in dazed terror that occurs in children during slow-wave sleep, is often preceded by a sudden shrill cry uttered in sleep, and is not remembered when the child awakes
—usually used in plural
called also pavor nocturnus
More from Merriam-Webster on night terror
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about night terror
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