Synonyms of horrifying

horrifying 1 of 2

adjective

1

as in terrifying

causing fear

couldn't sleep after reading a horrifying tale of evil

a horrifying scream brought people running from all directions to see what was wrong

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terrifying
• frightening
• scary
• horrible
• formidable
• terrible
• intimidating
• alarming
• shocking
• dread
• fearful
• startling
• dreadful
• eerie
• creepy
• ghastly
• gruesome
• frightful
• horrendous
• disturbing
• dire
• troubling
• fearsome
• spine-chilling
• forbidding
• trying
• hair-raising
• direful
• threatening
• redoubtable
• unnerving
• discouraging
• disconcerting
• daunting
• disquieting
• demoralizing
• hideous
• weird
• perturbing
• dismaying
• distressing
• nightmarish
• grisly
• appalling
• macabre
• awful
• horrid
• monstrous
• bone-chilling
• atrocious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• comforting
• relaxing
• soothing
• calming
• inviting
• tranquilizing
• consoling
• nonthreatening
• quieting
• lulling
• pacifying
• nonintimidating

2

as in gruesome

extremely disturbing or repellent

the horrifying sight of a rat running through the restaurant's kitchen

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gruesome
• horrific
• shocking
• horrible
• nightmare
• frightening
• terrible
• terrifying
• terrific
• awful
• scary
• dreadful
• hideous
• appalling
• nightmarish
• grisly
• sickening
• macabre
• horrid
• ghastly
• disgusting
• horrendous
• frightful
• monstrous
• atrocious
• lurid
• alarming
• fearful
• dire
• ugly
• grotesque
• revolting
• obscene
• repulsive
• formidable
• loathsome
• offensive
• deplorable
• direful
• abhorrent
• heinous
• repugnant
• unspeakable
• gut-wrenching
• intimidating
• fearsome
• abominable
• disagreeable
• forbidding
• obnoxious
• odious
• evil
• distasteful
• vile
• bloodcurdling
• hair-raising
• nauseating
• heart-stopping
• redoubtable
• noxious
• unsightly
• noisome
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasant
• attractive
• delightful
• delicious
• appealing
• enjoyable
• welcome
• satisfying
• pleasurable
• agreeable
• enticing
• pleasing
• delectable
• inviting
• comforting
• soothing
• cheering

horrifying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of horrify

as in frightening

to strike with fear

the old black-and-white psychological thriller still horrifies audiences

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frightening
• terrifying
• scaring
• startling
• shocking
• alarming
• spooking
• terrorizing
• scarifying
• shaking
• panicking
• appalling
• frighting
• amazing
• affrighting
• worrying
• astounding
• dismaying
• disturbing
• distracting
• giving one the creeps
• making one's flesh creep
• jolting
• unsettling
• daunting
• distressing
• unnerving
• disconcerting
• disquieting
• shaking up
• upsetting
• dispiriting
• discomforting
• awing
• emasculating
• bowling over
• perturbing
• demoralizing
• chilling
• undoing
• psyching (out)
• flooring
• unmanning
• discomposing
• unstringing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• comforting
• assuring
• cheering
• soothing
• consoling
• encouraging
• inspiring
• solacing
• heartening
• emboldening
• steeling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of horrifying

Adjective

In Obsession’s most horrifying sequence, the audience senses something awful is about to unfold several beats before the frenzy of blunt-force head trauma actually takes place on screen. — Chris Lee, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026

That this attack was pulled off with seeming ease and the destruction was horrifying and devastating. — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026

Even after discovering the horrifying consequences of his wish, Bear struggles to relinquish control. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Oct. 2026

The supermodel, known for going above and beyond with her elaborate (and often horrifying) costume creations, has unveiled a sneak peek at this year’s outfit. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2026

To see that beautiful sense of community shattered by senseless violence is devastating, and learning that multiple victims are children is even more horrifying. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026

These horrifying yet beguiling events might just hold some secrets to understanding the universe. — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Last May, Backrooms — about a horrifying liminal space that exists beyond our own reality — smashed box office records. — Ayesha Rascoe, NPR, 18 Oct. 2026

Friday the 13th invented the subgenre and remains horrifying to this day. — Rebekah Faubion, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2026

Verb

On Christmas Day, Neon will weigh in with the best of the three, Luca Guadagnino’s Artificial, a humorous and ultimately horrifying account of 20 years of AI evolution and a scorching portrait of OpenAI founder Sam Altman. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

The crime scene was gruesome, horrifying those who were summoned to the Second Street home in the wake of the attacks. — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

The complications are horrifying doctors. — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 24 June 2026

In the years since Boogie Nights, Leo has made an unlikely hit out of The Man in the Iron Mask, then took the role of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, showing off his range and turning that surreal and often horrifying movie into another $100 million feather in his cap. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026

The visage, created by Universal Studio’s then-lead makeup artist Jack Pierce for the 1931 film, was horrifying enough that its influence endured for almost 100 years. — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025

No special effects were required to trigger Curry's stark drift from amiability to horrifying emptiness. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025

Television cameras captured the ensuing violence, horrifying much of the nation. — Time, 12 Sep. 2025

The grisly murder stayed a local story until horrifying CCTV footage of the incident started making the rounds on social media last weekend. — Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025