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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
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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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In Mosul, the initial relief at liberation from IS’s reign of terror is already turning to grumbling.
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The United States is more accessible to terror like this, horror like this.
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Transnational terror groups operate in Afghanistan, are a threat to us in Western Europe.
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A big thank you to SCOTUS for putting an end to all these terror attacks by immigrants, oh wait -- Vito (@Vext6) June 26, 2017 BREAKING: #SCOTUS to take up Trump's Muslim ban.
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The conference was hosted by 67-year-old Danie de Wet, along with his sons Johann and Peter, genial giants who must have inspired terror in opponents during their rugby days.
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During their bloody war eight year war, Iran and Iraq fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at one another, mostly inaccurate Scud missiles that were mostly used as terror weapons against civilian targets.
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There's no doubt that Ariana Grande has been emotionally affected by the devastating terror attack that took place at her Manchester concert on May 22.
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Meanwhile, tech firms have faced lawsuits from victims of terrorist attacks, including from family members of those who died in the 2015 San Bernardino terror attacks.
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
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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