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

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

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