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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 horror The pic, which world premiered at SXSW to 93% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, follows a filmmaking family, the Smiths, and their low-budget horror movie which turns into a real-life slasher when a dead body shows up on set. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026 The scientist who is compelled by an unstoppable need to know, despite being aware of the danger, is a familiar trope in sci-fi and horror novels and films. — Carline Tromp, The Dial, 18 Aug. 2026 At the start of the trial, Patrick Clancy described the horror of returning home to find his dead children. — Leah Willingham, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026 Martial arts and supernatural horror collide in this romp of a buddy comedy. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 Aug. 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
  • Having those atrocities, and his denials, spoken into her headphones, has a powerful effect.
    — Anne E. Fernald, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Howard-Taylor was married to former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who was convicted by an international war crimes court for sponsoring atrocities in Sierra Leone.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of atrocity
Noun
  • But her kindly and supportive cop boyfriend Nick (Brandon Perea) rightly insists that the duo should perhaps move out of the house when Gemma’s habitual nightmares intensify.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • As the title suggests, the film indeed opens with a dream, one that emerges from the nightmares of history.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of nightmare
Noun
  • The lineup has expanded beyond its viral multi-balm, too, with lightweight SPF sticks and even a mess-minimizing grinding cleansing balm.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 15 Aug. 2026
  • This major price cut gives pet owners, apartment renters, and busy families an easy way to clean up the mess in a single pass without retail price strain.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of mess
Noun
  • The frenzy followed Beijing’s decision in the mid-1980s to ban imports of almost all blood products – except human albumin – amid growing fears over the global HIV/AIDS crisis.
    — CNN Staff, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Now, as my anxiety climbed, the smell was becoming inseparable from the fear.
    — Ledio Cakaj, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of fear
Noun
  • Eating disorders, as those in recovery have stressed, thrive on the pathological evidence of their symptoms, spinning negative attention—concern, disgust—into fatal affirmations.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2026
  • His shock engagement to Sarita (Hannah Simone), the brainy, beautiful sister of de facto trooper leader Thorny (director Jay Chandrasekhar), pits brother against family and bro against bro, even if Farva doesn’t register his colleague’s disgust.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 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
  • Such is the ecstasy, the agony, of judgment, which was never for their benefit.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The man with almost no injury was writhing in agony, while the man with a four-inch nail lodged near his brain kept working for six days, not even realizing the nail was there.
    — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of agony
Noun
  • But Broadway is a different beast, and the real question is whether horror audiences are willing to go beyond their local multiplex in search of frights.
    — William Earl, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • After a couple of rounds of throwing up and an evaluation by the doctor, Coop is okay, but the whole thing puts a fright into the crew, and especially into Joy.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 July 2026
Definition of fright

Browse Nearby Words

horrifying
horror
horrors
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Horror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horror. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on horror

Nglish: Translation of horror for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All