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
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
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Recent Examples of horror
According to Deadline, Charli will be possessed by a violent, tortured spirit in director Takashi Miike’s upcoming untitled slasher-horror film that is scheduled to start filming in Japan next month; the role was previously reported, but the details about the plot are new.
—
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Feb. 2026
Later, in a scene of echoing horror and grim hilarity, Pearl is torn from her airplane seat and flung into the night.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
But beyond the individual horror of this story is a centuries-old question around evil.
—Tara Sonenshine, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2026
The suit is a parade of horrors.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for horror
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Feb. 2026
Later, in a scene of echoing horror and grim hilarity, Pearl is torn from her airplane seat and flung into the night.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
But beyond the individual horror of this story is a centuries-old question around evil.
—Tara Sonenshine, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2026
The suit is a parade of horrors.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for horror
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horror
Noun
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What is intended to be a carefree girls trip devolves into a nightmare, unfolding when Katie (Charli xcx) becomes possessed by a violent, tortured spirit (Mizuhara) in the Japanese horror tradition.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
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As much as the looming Seahawks-Pats showdown has all the makings of nightmare fuel, the people who dragged young Winston into this mess have by now probably grown accustomed to gutting out a Jets-free Super Bowl.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Specifically, the bench is a dysfunctional mess.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
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And now we’re stuck having to clean up this mess.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The killings of Good and Pretti sparked further fear and backlash.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Twelve years after an NFL game was first shown on television in a period of fear of war and triumph in war, the championship game itself was broadcast across the country for the first time.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Charlie’s prevailing disgust with his fellow-officers, most of whom all but openly take part in a human-trafficking operation, is sharpened when a young migrant from Mexico, named Maria, has her infant stolen while they’re being held in a detention camp.—
Alexander Nazaryan,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
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Buddhist texts often claim that being reborn as a woman is a karmic punishment, and some texts describe female bodies with disgust.—
Megan Bryson,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And Brundage ensures that his readers will not dismiss the record of prison atrocities.—
Drew Gilpin Faust,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
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The Buckley case spawned other loopholes from Congress and the courts over the years, directly culminating in the 2010 atrocity of the Citizens United case.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The agony of not knowing what would happen to his wife and only child overwhelmed Luis, Xiong said.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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Well, there was a great deal left in me, in an agony of embarrassment looking around for that hole on the floor to crawl into.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Knott’s has unveiled its annual Seasons of Fun calendar that includes events dedicated to Peanuts characters, Boysenberry treats, summertime barbecues, Halloween frights and Christmas cheer.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
29 Dec. 2025
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Though Heitor is claimed to be no more harmful than a puppy, there are some moments of fright for Griff who is a little uneasy acting opposite him and at one point panics and tosses him overboard, resulting in Heitor’s gruesome demise.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
23 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Our cousins just over the border in Wisconsin kept up a steady stream of taunts, trash-talking the Bears and causing us all a lot of anxiety as the minutes ticked by.—
Erendira Rendon,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
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Experts say exercise during pregnancy and after birth can help lower anxiety, improve sleep, and boost your mood.—
Hannah Silverman,
Parents,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Horror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horror. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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