as in to frighten
to strike with fear
the old black-and-white psychological thriller still horrifies audiences
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent
the horrifying sight of a rat running through the restaurant's kitchen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in frightening
to strike with fear
the old black-and-white psychological thriller still horrifies audiences
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of horrify
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 June 2026
Or, nearly 40 years after his death in 1987, would he be horrified by just how relevant its themes still feel?
—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
That gap between horrifying fact and escapist fantasy is what makes Huston’s film so fascinating now.
—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
Television cameras captured the ensuing violence, horrifying much of the nation.
—
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for horrify
Verb
Things take an unexpected turn when Aemond, mistaking motherly love for romantic love, leans in and kisses Alicent, leaving her shocked and horrified.
—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 June 2026
Or, nearly 40 years after his death in 1987, would he be horrified by just how relevant its themes still feel?
—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
Adjective
Canada’s 6-0 thrashing of Qatar in its second FIFA World Cup match would’ve been perfect on Thursday afternoon if not for an injury to Ismaël Koné that can only be described as horrifying.
—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
That gap between horrifying fact and escapist fantasy is what makes Huston’s film so fascinating now.
—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
Verb
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
See All Example Sentences for horrify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrify
Verb
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But her outbursts frightened the children too.
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What frightened me most was what might happen to my children.
Verb
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Don’t be scared by his blue eyes.
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The intent of the letters isn’t to scare people, but to educate them about water stewardship, Talbott said.
Verb
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Supporters — many of them wearing Colombia’s yellow and red colors — rushed the gates at the home stadium of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, leaving fans terrified and bloodied as security struggled to contain the rush.
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In La Guaira, entire sections of Catia la Mar remained without electricity on Thursday after many residents spent Wednesday night sleeping in streets, cars or near damaged buildings, terrified of further collapses.
Verb
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The mobile phone alert startled many across the city-state of Dubai, the first such alert since the interim ceasefire.
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Lansley said she has been startled by how chatbots can appear to display emotional intelligence.
Cite this Entry
“Horrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrify. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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