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
The quiet horror is that even 20 years later, the fence has not disappeared.
—
Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 27 June 2025
Yet, when viewed in hindsight, Manchester City’s horror season last year resulted from a whole host of decisions that look wildly risky in retrospect.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Anna Biller, director of cult horror movie The Love Witch, will begin filming on her third film in Prague in July.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 June 2025
To fall back on one of horror marketing’s favorite cliches, the man has a twisted mind.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for horror
Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 27 June 2025
Yet, when viewed in hindsight, Manchester City’s horror season last year resulted from a whole host of decisions that look wildly risky in retrospect.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Anna Biller, director of cult horror movie The Love Witch, will begin filming on her third film in Prague in July.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 June 2025
To fall back on one of horror marketing’s favorite cliches, the man has a twisted mind.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for horror
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horror
Noun
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But highly damaged Mark, whose upbringing was evidently a nightmare of abuse, has found salvation, or at least escape: He’s ordained himself a servant of the Lord, holding improvisational services in the prison chapel to a paltry flock.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
20 June 2025
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And then suddenly that nightmare had a new dimension: Someone had grabbed her other daughter, Tameeka.—
Dateline NBC,
NBC news,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Similarly, homeowners who enjoy entertaining might prioritize a scullery or prep kitchen/pantry to keep the party mess out of view.—
Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin,
Southern Living,
26 June 2025
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Life in Weisshorn is a mess of lies and trauma, and Nel’s ready to break out.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
26 June 2025
Noun
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The fear, in fact, is that our continual need to standardize will modernize ourselves out of existence.—
Sara Novak,
Discover Magazine,
28 June 2025
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Levine also challenged Ono’s inaction as a pro-Hamas encampment took hold in the heart of Michigan’s campus, causing terror and fear among Jewish students.—
Avi D. Gordon,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 June 2025
Noun
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The phrase used to be spoken with a whiff of disgust by an older generation displeased with the behavior of young people compared to their own youthful comportment.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
13 June 2025
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Asked about their emotional reactions to immigrants, those in the dehumanization group communicated more anger and disgust.—
Nicholas DiMarzio,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2025
Noun
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The former mayor of a small rural village in Haiti, accused of torturing and killing opponents in his homeland, was sentenced Friday in a Massachusetts federal court to nine years in prison for lying about the atrocities in order to obtain a U.S. green card.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
20 June 2025
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That commission, set up by then-President Nelson Mandela, attempted to confront the atrocities of apartheid in the years after the system officially ended in 1994.—
Michelle Gumede,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
Noun
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But playing with an already-strained right calf, the Oshkosh, Wis., native stepped awkwardly towards the basket and crumbled to the court in agony when his leg appeared to pop.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
24 June 2025
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Finding alternatives that would end this agony would be one of American science’s most important achievements.—
Rachel Fobar,
Vox,
14 May 2025
Noun
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Well, consider that, unlike what’s happening in the world at large, the frights and delights inside Viola’s Room are actually fun.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
26 June 2025
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Ah well, Cesare already has two sequel novels published, so there’s already plenty more Frendo the Clown frights ready to be harvested.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2025
Noun
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In addition to being an outstanding source of quality protein, vitamins, and minerals, eggs contain choline, an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in brain health and helps to reduce stress and anxiety by improving emotional well-being.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
23 June 2025
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Too much attention, often understandably driven by shareholder and financial analyst anxiety, is being placed on the lagging indicators of current performance.—
Paul Laudicina,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horror. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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