terrifying
adjective
ter·ri·fy·ing
ˈter-ə-ˌfī-iŋ 
ˈte-rə-
1
: causing terror or apprehension
2
: of a formidable nature
terrifyingly
adverb
Examples of terrifying in a Sentence
The thought of dying alone was terrifying.
heard a terrifying noise coming from the next room
Recent Examples on the Web
Madigan's character, the elderly aunt of several of the students, became a cult favorite, both terrifying and delighting audiences.
—
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Madigan’s quirky but terrifying Aunt Gladys quickly captivated audiences.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Angelina Jolie has visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah Crossing to see up close the terrifying humanitarian crisis impacting Gaza.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2026
A lot of places on this planet—hellscapes where people are warring, starving, and living under terrifying repression—might benefit from forceful intervention.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrifying
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Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Madigan’s quirky but terrifying Aunt Gladys quickly captivated audiences.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Angelina Jolie has visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah Crossing to see up close the terrifying humanitarian crisis impacting Gaza.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2026
A lot of places on this planet—hellscapes where people are warring, starving, and living under terrifying repression—might benefit from forceful intervention.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrifying
Cite this Entry
“Terrifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrifying. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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