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horror

noun

ˈhȯr-ər How to pronounce horror (audio)
Definition of horrornext
1
as in dreadfulness
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay it's difficult to even begin to comprehend the horror of the Holocaust

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2
as in nightmare
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness had never experienced the horrors of war

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3
as in mess
something unpleasant to look at are you really going to hang that horror on the wall?

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4
as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger imagine my horror at finding myself face to face with a lion on the loose

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5
as in disgust
a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness cat lover or no, she regards cleaning the litter box with horror

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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 horror His first communication with the horror icon was through agents after the success of Gerald’s Game, based on the 1992 work. — Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026 There are taboo subjects that would be unpublishable in other genres, but that are actually hallmarks of gothic horror. — Josh Rivera, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026 Roof’s appeals will probably continue for years, and just the experience of seeing further news stories about him brings back all of the horror of his violence, renewing our wounds. — Sharon Risher, New York Daily News, 15 Sep. 2026 As for what’s next for the Canadian filmmaker after his debut feature premieres in Toronto, Bawa has a couple of scripts on the go, including a horror pic. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for horror
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horror
  1. atrocity
  2. nightmare
  3. mess
  4. fear
  5. disgust
  6. awfulness
  7. agony
  8. fright
Noun
  • The atrocities committed in Chile were similar to those in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Central America, where leftist movements and guerrillas were squashed with incredible brutality.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack an atrocity with no military purpose.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of atrocity
Noun
  • That led to the rest of the tour’s openers and even Sheeran’s backing band for the tour dropping off the tour in solidarity with Macklemore — all of which became a huge news story and PR nightmare for the usually very un-controversial Sheeran.
    — Brendan Menapace, Billboard, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The Texans are supposed to be elite on the defensive side of the ball, but having to face Allen and then Burrow will give any defensive coordinator nightmares.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of nightmare
Noun
  • One person may be disappointed by your choice, but overextending yourself could create a bigger mess.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Styptic pencils, made with the same fast-acting aluminum sulfate, are reusable and packaged with a protective cap to prevent mess.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of mess
Noun
  • Lawrence has widened his aim to the entire AI industry, calling for a pause on AI development in the wake of fears from some at the companies that the technology could eliminate humanity.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Feldstein’s arrest was kept under a sweeping gag order, for fear that disclosing it would compromise Israeli intelligence, but the Haaretz reporter Bar Peleg soon learned of it.
    — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of fear
Noun
  • Others — unable to recognize him as advancing the baton passed on by the athlete-activists now commonly praised for their bravery — viewed Kaepernick with disgust.
    — Mike Jones, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Someone else expresses revulsion at seeing dogs devour bodies left to rot, but the disgust doesn’t seem to extend to the killings themselves.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of disgust
Noun
  • In a world so full of dread and awfulness, why not take a moment to read anonymous petty literary gossip on the internet?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The relative excitement around the Rockies having arrived in San Diego at 6-6 is a reaction based on their relative awfulness.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of awfulness
Noun
  • There are few harsher agonies than waiting, and throughout the great expanse of the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix presented by Rolex at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’, two riders felt that in very different ways.
    — Tilly Berendt, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • But for Roma, the agony for his missing son did not end that day.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of agony
Noun
  • Moments later their fun turned into fright as the coyote continued attacking the child, even after Cardinal yelled at it.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Halloween Horror Nights opened Thursday at the theme park where screams of excitement turned to screams of fright.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of fright

Browse Nearby Words

horrifying
horror
horrors
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Cite this Entry

“Horror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horror. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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