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
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 world viewed the satellite imagery with horror, almost in real time.
—
James Verini, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
His deep dive into the genre left him with some pet peeves, not least the irrational or simply implausible behavior of many horror-movie protagonists.
—Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
The other kind tells the harsh truth to arm her against life’s inevitable horrors.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Despite his bonafides in both comedy and horror, Stevens isn’t too caught up in labels.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for horror
James Verini, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
His deep dive into the genre left him with some pet peeves, not least the irrational or simply implausible behavior of many horror-movie protagonists.
—Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
The other kind tells the harsh truth to arm her against life’s inevitable horrors.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Despite his bonafides in both comedy and horror, Stevens isn’t too caught up in labels.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for horror
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horror
Noun
-
The Los Angeles Dodgers could face a massive PR nightmare from LA vegans as star pitcher Edwin Diaz finds himself at the center of a federal animal cruelty scandal.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
Brutal start for Ducks The first period was an absolute nightmare for the Ducks.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Becerra blunder The first ad that grabbed my attention was a quick-turn by San José Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan (still stuck in single-digit polling numbers), who jumped on Xavier Becerra’s first major mess-up.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
That way, the bristles can cling to your skincare products instead of dripping into the brush’s base and making a mess.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Those fears have eased somewhat in recent months as some Democratic candidates advance from the pack.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
Your co-parent is managing treatment, uncertainty and the very real fear of how this will affect his relationship with his daughter.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Then the scene’s perspective shifts, and Amadeus reveals that Salieri’s look of disgust is not for his younger rival but for the figure of Jesus Christ hanging on a cross above the sanctuary.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
-
It was filled with snark, disgust, vitriol and probably some truth.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
This plan is an atrocity deserving to be overturned — quickly.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
-
Sartre wrote the essay in 1944, as people around the world were learning the extent of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Kirby, screaming in agony, was on his knees as officers ordered him to drop a knife, according to video.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
-
The sight of a heart-and-soul player in agony on the ice, then being helped off it — by captain Marie-Philip Poulin, Stacey’s wife — was a shock.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
In set-pieces involving the Pooka, dark lighting and strong use of shadow results in some scenes that can give younger viewers a genuine fright.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
1 May 2026
-
The 1390 Super Duke RR is leaner and better appointed for handling than the regular Super Duke R, and is sure to give your insurer a proper fright.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But the following year, as the pandemic wore on and crime rates ticked up, the politics of criminal justice in the city shifted toward law-and-order anxiety, even as new waves of COVID infection struck the jails.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
War rumbles on Putin, who has ruled Russia as president or prime minister since the last day of 1999, faces a wave of anxiety in Moscow about the war in Ukraine, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people, left swathes of Ukraine in ruins, and drained Russia’s $3 trillion economy.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Horror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horror. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
