terrifying

adjective

ter·​ri·​fy·​ing ˈter-ə-ˌfī-iŋ How to pronounce terrifying (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The terrifying moment that passengers were made to put on oxygen masks was captured on video. Latoya Gayle, People.com, 1 July 2025 When the body of a young man is found eerily staged in the idyllic Scottish wilderness, detective Monica Kennedy fears this is just the beginning of a terrifying campaign that will strike the heart of a rural community. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025 That terrifying consequence alone is sufficient to discredit the executive order. Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 30 June 2025 Leading the slate is The Honeymoon Murder: Who Killed Anni Dewani?, exploring the terrifying death of the woman who didn’t survive her honeymoon. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for terrifying

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of terrifying was circa 1586

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Terrifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrifying. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on terrifying

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!