as in gruesome
causing great horror or fear
We heard bloodcurdling stories about the war. bloodcurdling screams
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Recent Examples of bloodcurdling
India’s largest state, Uttar Pradesh, is run by Yogi Adityanath, a Hindu monk who founded an anti-Muslim militia and whose bloodcurdling rhetoric against Muslims once placed him beyond the pale of high office.
—
Sadanand Dhume, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
In Act III, the bloodcurdling chorus of the Dutchman’s spectral crew lacked a persuasive visual component.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2020
The sounds of more explosions could be heard deriving from the outside amid more seemingly bloodcurdling screams, yells, sirens and alarms.
—Sean Lester Durham, The Root, 8 Apr. 2018
To me, a noose is merely a noose — not a bloodcurdling symbol of racist violence.
—Kevin Riordan, Philly.com, 1 Nov. 2017
A young girl issued bloodcurdling screams as nurses cleaned cuts running up her leg.
—Azam Ahmed, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2016
Sadanand Dhume, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
In Act III, the bloodcurdling chorus of the Dutchman’s spectral crew lacked a persuasive visual component.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2020
The sounds of more explosions could be heard deriving from the outside amid more seemingly bloodcurdling screams, yells, sirens and alarms.
—Sean Lester Durham, The Root, 8 Apr. 2018
To me, a noose is merely a noose — not a bloodcurdling symbol of racist violence.
—Kevin Riordan, Philly.com, 1 Nov. 2017
A young girl issued bloodcurdling screams as nurses cleaned cuts running up her leg.
—Azam Ahmed, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bloodcurdling
Adjective
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The gruesome deaths of the two beloved teens shook and forever changed the small Indiana community.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
1 Aug. 2025
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The list includes redshirt junior nose tackle Jamari Lyons, back from a gruesome ankle injury, athletic 6-foot-2 ½, 244-pound sophomore linebacker Aaron Chiles and redshirt cornerback Cormani McClain.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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The Yogurt Shop Murders is based on a true story of a horrific crime back in 1991, one that many people may not have heard of.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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The situation for the hostages is absolutely horrific as well.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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He’s really walked that tightrope of being scary but still keeping it fun.—
Simon Bland,
IndieWire,
6 Aug. 2025
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The environmental effects of the bombs described in the book are particularly scary.—
Sean Woods,
Rolling Stone,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Amy Madigan’s striking performance is both funny and frightening, her witch an ancient, otherworldly being that only really understands power.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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Chad Michael Murray's journey to acting began with a frightening trip to the hospital.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The previous version of the immersive attraction brought guests face to face with the terrifying flickering TV screen, the menacing beast from beyond, and the pool filled with floating corpses.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Girlie joins a team of content moderators who are mostly women of color, swiping through terrifying scenes at the company’s offices in Las Vegas for enough money to keep their families afloat.—
Sarah Rose Etter,
The Atlantic,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Temuera Morrison plays a terrific villain as the murderous King Kahekili.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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While much of that is thanks to an explosive offense that features Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, the Ravens also have some terrific players on the defensive side of the ball, which should not come as much of a surprise given their history.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In a shocking turn of events, Weems is Wednesday’s new spirit guide, or figure from beyond death who will help Wednesday with her psychic visions.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
14 Aug. 2025
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Perhaps the biggest moment was her shocking termination as principal, which not only upset her fictional colleagues but also viewers.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Soroka is a combined 3-18 with a 4.81 ERA the last two seasons with the White Sox and Nationals, two horrible teams.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Aug. 2025
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This was the definition of a symbolic move, in large part due to frustration over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stewardship of the war in Gaza as well as the horrible images depicting starvation that are streaming out of the enclave.—
Zoltan Istvan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bloodcurdling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bloodcurdling. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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