HORRIFIES Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

horrifies

verb

present tense third-person singular of horrify

as in frightens

to strike with fear the old black-and-white psychological thriller still horrifies audiences

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of horrifies Sunday was another game-long display of why Wembanyama horrifies opponents from either side of the ball. — James Jackson, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrifies

Verb

The thing that frightens me isn’t that machines will replace people.

— Maria Colacurcio, Fortune, 28 June 2026
What frightens scientists more than the sheer numbers are that the cuts are arbitrary and manifestly pernicious.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026

Definition of frightens

Verb

As horror franchises evolve across installments, there’s a natural tendency for the creatives behind them to overthink things and get a bit too lost in the sauce of mythos and worldbuilding and topping themselves with bigger, juicier scares.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
What scares many of them is the loss of predictability, the sense of no longer recognizing their own reactions.

— Dr. Sarah Berg, Time, 9 July 2026

Definition of scares

Verb

Missile warning startles Dubai Earlier on Friday, a missile warning in the United Arab Emirates caused by a technical glitch underscored the ongoing tensions in the region, following the attack on the cargo vessel and Israeli strikes in Lebanon over the past few days.

— Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
The combination of flashing light and movement startles them.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 June 2026

Definition of startles

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“Horrifies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrifies. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of horrifies

verb

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