terrify

verb

ter·​ri·​fy ˈter-ə-ˌfī 

ˈte-rə-

terrified; terrifying

transitive verb

1

a

: to drive or impel by menacing : scare

b

: deter, intimidate

2

: to fill with terror

Synonyms

• frighten
• scare
• startle

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

The Civil War unfolded in battlefields, but also wrought the Draft Riots in New York City, during which dozens of Black residents were murdered, property was destroyed, and the city terrified. —Annie Polland, Time, 25 Sep. 2025

With new species and the opportunity to explore a planet led by wealthy corporations, director Noah Hawley began building the retro-futuristic creatures to terrify the next generation. —Leia Mendoza, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025

Writing fiction terrified me and still does. —Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025

In a TikTok video, the bully's owner shared a clip that challenges the breed's aggressive reputation—by showing her dog terrified of her new puppy. —Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin terrificare, from terrificus

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for terrify

• abscissae
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi
• certify

Kids Definition

terrify

verb

ter·​ri·​fy ˈter-ə-ˌfī 

terrified; terrifying

: to fill with terror

terrifyingly

-ˌfī-iŋ-lē

adverb