terror

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noun ter·ror \ ˈter-ər , ˈte-rər \

Definition of terror

1 :a state of intense fear

2 a :one that inspires fear :scourge

b :a frightening aspect

c :a cause of anxiety :worry

d :an appalling person or thing; especially :brat

3 :reign of terror

4 :violent or destructive acts (such as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands

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terrorless

play \-ləs\ adjective

See terror defined for English-language learners

See terror defined for kids

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 of terror from the Web

Hope that we would be kept safe from the kind of terror Europe is dealing with.

— Cincinnati.com, "Column: A thing called hope," 30 Aug. 2017
Arpaio’s reign of terror extended beyond his prison’s gates.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "‘Sheriff Joe’ and Everyday American Authoritarianism," 30 Aug. 2017
Pictures of people fleeing an Ariana Grande concert in England after a bombing in the spring and running from a marketplace near London Bridge after a terror attack this summer remain fresh in people’s minds.

— charles rabin, miamiherald, "There wasn’t a shooter, but security experts say the Dolphin Mall had to be cleared," 23 Aug. 2017
Hourihan contrasted the memo’s focus on support for breakthrough military technologies, technology to prevent terror attacks, and helping older Americans remain healthy with the large cuts for those same areas that Trump has proposed.

— jeffrey mervis, Science | AAAS, "Trump offers his first list of science priorities, and it’s America first," 17 Aug. 2017
And then—oil, terror, dollars and cents—times changed.

— adam popescu, vanityfair.com, "Inside the Private, Celebrity-Friendly Terminal at LAX," 16 Aug. 2017
Federal officials, who launched a civil rights investigation Saturday, have approached the incident as both an act of terror and a civil rights case.

— the washington post, AL.com, "Charlottesville car attack could be prosecuted as hate crime, Sessions says," 16 Aug. 2017
Despite my initial terror, stepping out of my comfort zone has been the best part of interning at Ink.

— kansascity, "5 GIFs that perfectly sum up my summer as an Ink intern," 27 July 2017
Such are the hazards of heading the elite counter-terror force in a steamy metropolis of 20m with a reputation as the most dangerous city in Asia.

— The Economist, "The pushmi-pullyuWhat makes Pakistan so unfathomable," 22 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'terror.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of terror

Middle English, from Anglo-French terrour, from Latin terror, from terrēre to frighten; akin to Greek trein to be afraid, flee, tremein to tremble — more at tremble

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

terror Synonyms

Synonyms

affliction, hang-up, demon, torment

Related Words

bête noire, bogey (also bogie or bogy), bugaboo, bugbear, hobgoblin, ogre

Near Antonyms

aplomb, assurance, boldness, confidence, self-assurance, self-confidence; bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, fortitude, gallantry, hardihood, intrepidity, intrepidness, stoutness, valor; audacity, guts, nerve

Synonym Discussion of terror

fear, dread, fright, alarm, panic, terror, trepidation mean painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger. fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

- fear of the unknown

dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety.

- faced the meeting with dread

fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

- fright at being awakened suddenly

alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

- view the situation with alarm

panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

- the news caused widespread panic

terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

- immobilized with terror

trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation.

- raised the subject with trepidation

TERROR Defined for English Language Learners

terror

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noun

Definition of terror for English Language Learners

: a very strong feeling of fear
: something that causes very strong feelings of fear : something that is terrifying
: violence that is committed by a person, group, or government in order to frighten people and achieve a political goal