terrify
verb
ter·ri·fy
ˈter-ə-ˌfī 
ˈte-rə-
terrified; terrifying
1
a
: to drive or impel by menacing : scare
b
: deter, intimidate
2
: to fill with terror
Examples of terrify in a Sentence
The thought of dying alone terrifies her.
the prospect of speaking in front of a huge crowd of people absolutely terrifies me
Recent Examples on the Web
Anyone with a fear of heights should be terrified.
—
Susan Shelley, Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Daniel Kaluuya stars as a Black photographer visiting his white girlfriend's parents and is terrified to discover the truly insidious reason for his invitation.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Yet every year, this terrified little animal is subjected to loud announcers and noisy crowds and held up and waved around without any regard for his feelings, welfare, or instincts.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
We’re being attacked by the unpredictability, uncertainty and cruelty of our administration, and this should terrify us all.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrify
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Susan Shelley, Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Daniel Kaluuya stars as a Black photographer visiting his white girlfriend's parents and is terrified to discover the truly insidious reason for his invitation.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Yet every year, this terrified little animal is subjected to loud announcers and noisy crowds and held up and waved around without any regard for his feelings, welfare, or instincts.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
We’re being attacked by the unpredictability, uncertainty and cruelty of our administration, and this should terrify us all.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrify
Cite this Entry
“Terrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrify. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
terrify
verb
ter·ri·fy
ˈter-ə-ˌfī
terrified; terrifying
: to fill with terror
terrifyingly
adverb
-ˌfī-iŋ-lē
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