as in to frighten
to strike with fear
the old black-and-white psychological thriller still horrifies audiences
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 horrify
The effortless, terrifying strength of our great ape cousins seems to horrify and fascinate us, but gorillas are better known in the natural world as gentle giants.
—
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Other times—like seen in a viral TikTok video on egg gravy (that horrified many commenters)—the yolks are taken out and crumbled.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025
Naturally, the honorable scout leader is horrified by what’s happening to him.
—Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 24 Apr. 2025
Alas, there is very little time on this show for healing or processing, since in a real Pitt move, just as the Pitt Fest trauma comes to a close an ambulance pulls up with yet another story line to horrify us: A possible measles outbreak thanks to anti-vaxxers!
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for horrify
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Other times—like seen in a viral TikTok video on egg gravy (that horrified many commenters)—the yolks are taken out and crumbled.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025
Naturally, the honorable scout leader is horrified by what’s happening to him.
—Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 24 Apr. 2025
Alas, there is very little time on this show for healing or processing, since in a real Pitt move, just as the Pitt Fest trauma comes to a close an ambulance pulls up with yet another story line to horrify us: A possible measles outbreak thanks to anti-vaxxers!
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for horrify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrify
Verb
-
The goal of strengthening Washington’s presence should be to reassure partners that U.S. pressure is designed to create stronger alliances, not to pave the way for abandonment, as well as to ensure that resisting China is viable for countries that are frightened by Beijing.—
A. Wess Mitchell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
-
The American Declaration of Independence and Constitution frightened monarchies and despots around the world without a single bullet or gunboat.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The prospective repercussions terrify the corner of the AI universe concerned about safety, industry experts said, particularly as leading players pursue artificial general intelligence, or AGI, which is technology that rivals or exceeds human intelligence.—
Hayden Field,Jonathan Vanian,Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
14 May 2025
-
The radiotherapy had caused swelling in my brain—apparently a normal response, but still terrifying.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 May 2025
Verb
-
Start to say no to distractions that do not serve your higher purpose, and start saying yes to the things that challenge you, stretch you and even scare you a little.—
Melissa Sierra,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
-
What scares and excites you about where AI is headed for the next generation of artists?—
Lily Marks,
Time,
5 May 2025
Verb
-
Sea pens can produce a bioluminescent glow when disturbed, flashing a greenish light to startle predators such as sea stars and nudibranchs.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
-
Long time viewers of 60 Minutes are understandably startled by these high level fireworks.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrify. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share