terrorize

verb

ter·​ror·​ize ˈter-ər-ˌīz 

terrorized; terrorizing

transitive verb

1

: to fill with terror or anxiety : scare

2

: to coerce by threat or violence

terrorization

ˌter-ər-ə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Synonyms of terrorize

• frighten
• scare
• terrify
• startle

Examples of terrorize in a Sentence

As a child she terrorized her younger siblings.

She was terrorized by nightmares.

Employees were terrorized into accepting abysmal working conditions.

Recent Examples on the Web

The movie is understood to follow a sheriff and a doctor who seek revenge against a group of bandits who use the cover of a torrential thunderstorm to rob and terrorize the occupants of a small town. —Justin Kroll, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026

The animal begins wrecking the fields and terrorizing the people. —Perin Gürel, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026

He is also accused of entering her home to commit an offense and unlawfully removing her in order to inflict bodily injury or terrorize her. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026

But when a sadistic local (Taron Egerton) begins terrorizing her, a frantic chase ensues. —ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for terrorize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

terrorize

verb

ter·​ror·​ize ˈter-ər-ˌīz 

terrorized; terrorizing

1

: to fill with terror

2

: to force by threat or violence

terrorization

ˌter-ər-ə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Legal Definition

terrorize

transitive verb

ter·​ror·​ize ˈter-ər-ˌīz 

terrorized; terrorizing

: to inflict terror upon

terrorization

ˌter-ər-ə-ˈzā-shən 

noun