plural terrors
1
: a state of intense or overwhelming fear
overcome by terror
people fleeing the scene in terror
He lived in terror of being caught.
2
: violence or the threat of violence used as a weapon of intimidation or coercion
a regime that rules by terror
especially
: violent or destructive acts (such as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands
an act of terror
the war on terror
—sometimes used before another noun a terror attack
3
: a very frightening or terrifying aspect
the terrors of war
4
a
: someone or something that inspires fear : scourge
I stood before fierce Mrs. Mabel Johnston, his secretary and the terror of the office.—
Russell Baker
Russell BakerBefore rifles were available to Eskimo hunters, bears were truly the terror of their existence.—Charles T. Feazel
Charles T. Feazel
b
informal
: an extremely disruptive or annoying person or thing
5
Examples of terror in a Sentence
The sound of guns being fired fills me with terror.
Many civilians fled in terror.
a terror that is still fresh in her memory
the terrors of life in the jungle
a regime that rules by terror
bombings and other acts of terror
These people have been living with terror and the threat of terror for many years.
a campaign of terror against ethnic minority groups
Recent Examples on the Web
Prosecutors are adding new first-degree murder charges to those already faced by terror suspect, who remains jailed.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 1 July 2025
The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are concerned about the potential for copycat attacks from the New Orleans terror attack on New Year's Day, as well as homegrown extremists.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 1 July 2025
Colorado prosecutors on Monday upgraded the charges against the alleged Boulder terror suspect following the death of an 82-year-old woman who was injured by Molotov cocktails in the June 1 attack.
—Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
More than 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by the terror group Hamas, while 250 people were taken hostage.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for terror
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 1 July 2025
The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are concerned about the potential for copycat attacks from the New Orleans terror attack on New Year's Day, as well as homegrown extremists.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 1 July 2025
Colorado prosecutors on Monday upgraded the charges against the alleged Boulder terror suspect following the death of an 82-year-old woman who was injured by Molotov cocktails in the June 1 attack.
—Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
More than 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by the terror group Hamas, while 250 people were taken hostage.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for terror
Cite this Entry
“Terror.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terror. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
terror
noun
ter·ror
ˈter-ər 
1
: a state of great fear
2
: a cause of great fear
3
a
: a dreadful person or thing
b
informal
: an unruly child
4
: violent or destructive acts (as bombing) committed by a group as a way of achieving its goals
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