reign of terror

noun phrase

: a state or a period of time marked by violence often committed by those in power that produces widespread terror

Examples of reign of terror in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Peacock’s eight-part dramatization is one of the better ones, and covers the reign of terror of 1970s killer John Wayne Gacy, the infamous contractor and creepy clown lover from Iowa responsible for at least 33 murders. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025

Set in 1962 — 27 years before the events of It Chapter One — Derry is once again being subjected to Pennywise’s reign of terror. —Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025

The stars and creator of the prequel series preview the central family at the center of the entity's latest reign of terror. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Oct. 2025

That has not abated, but Hedda’s reign of terror will find new ways to out itself (and her) over the course of one devastating party. —Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Reign of Terror, a period of the French Revolution that was conspicuous for mass executions of political suspects

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for reign of terror

• bearer
• carer
• error
• fairer
• ferrer
• rarer
• sharer
• wearer
• cupbearer
• declarer
• preparer
• repairer

Kids Definition

reign of terror

: a period marked by violence that is often carried out by those in power and produces terror among the people involved