Definition of terror
1 : a state of intense fear
2a : one that inspires fear : scourgeb : a frightening aspectc : a cause of anxiety : worryd : 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
From the M-W Editors
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
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Philippine national police chief says robbery may have been a motive in casino attack; terror links doubtful.
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The nonprofit Equal Justice Initiative said there were 4,075 lynchings of blacks in the South to spread racial terror between 1877 and 1950.
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Hopkins and his reign of terror exist in the historical record, but little is known about his private life.
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The singer temporarily suspended her Dangerous Woman tour in the wake of the Manchester terror attack.
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The deadly terror attack in the U.K. has catapulted security to the top of the agenda for the world’s most powerful leaders meeting in Sicily.
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Britain raised its terror alert to the maximum level and ordered troops to protect strategic sites after 22 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack on a Manchester pop concert.
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I’ve also been given pins by survivors of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York City, from cops, from people who lost sons and daughters in those attacks, talking about from law enforcement.
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He was killed in the explosion, which is being treated as a suicide bombing and terror attack.
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
First Known Use: 15th century
Synonym Discussion of terror
TERROR Defined for English Language Learners
terror
playDefinition of terror for English Language Learners
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: a very strong feeling of fear
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: something that causes very strong feelings of fear : something that is terrifying
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: violence that is committed by a person, group, or government in order to frighten people and achieve a political goal
TERROR Defined for Kids
terror
playDefinition of terror for Students
1 : a state of great fear They fled in terror.
2 : a cause of great fear All these, however, were mere terrors of the night … — Washington Irving, “Sleepy Hollow”
Law Dictionary
terror
Legal Definition of terror
: an intense fear of physical injury or death inflict terror by forced entry or unlawful assembly; also : the infliction of such fear an act of terror
Learn More about terror
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See words that rhyme with terror Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for terror Spanish Central: Translation of terror Nglish: Translation of terror for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of terror for Arabic speakers
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