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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 Watching how the United States treats detainees horrifies many Canadians, said Julia Sande, an immigration attorney with Amnesty International. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 29 July 2026 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
  1. frightens
  2. scares
  3. terrifies
  4. startles
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
  • Don’t be afraid to volunteer for a responsibility that scares you a little.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
  • Donor turnout hit by heat, health scares The only time the Red Cross previously declared a national blood crisis was in January 2022.
    — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of scares
Verb
  • That prospect terrifies Hamid, the relief worker who survived the drone strike.
    — Mat Nashed, Christian Science Monitor, 21 July 2026
  • Frankly, the thought of being beaten by the subscribers terrifies me.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of terrifies
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

Browse Nearby Words

horrified
horrifies
horrify
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Cite this Entry

“Horrifies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrifies. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on horrifies

Nglish: Translation of horrifies for Spanish Speakers

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