Synonyms of horror

horror

noun

ˈhȯr-ər 

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

• dreadfulness
• atrocity
• frightfulness
• awfulness
• gruesomeness
• ghastliness
• fearfulness
• repulsiveness
• hideousness
• horridness
• agony
• grisliness
• badness
• anguish
• torture
• atrociousness
• misery
• sinfulness
• evil
• vileness
• monstrosity
• heinousness
• baseness
• evilness
• wickedness
• viciousness
• foulness
• immorality
• depravity
• loathsomeness
• scariness
• torment
• invidiousness
• ghoulishness
• eeriness
• ungodliness
• hatefulness
• iniquity
• creepiness
• ghostliness
• fearsomeness
• depravedness
• hellishness
• diabolicalness
• iniquitousness
• cursedness
• accursedness
• despicableness
• execrableness
• reprehensibleness
• detestableness
• deplorableness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasantness
• agreeableness
• appeal
• attraction
• delightfulness
• desirability
• attractiveness
• pleasurableness
• allurement
• desirableness

2

as in nightmare

a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness

had never experienced the horrors of war

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nightmare
• agony
• misery
• torture
• torment
• murder
• curse
• hell
• tragedy
• ordeal
• misfortune
• calamity
• Gehenna
• tribulation
• cross
• trial
• affliction
• calvary
• thorn
• drag
• gall
• downer
• bummer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• heaven
• joy
• pleasure
• entertainment
• recreation
• delight
• fun
• diversion
• paradise
• riot
• picnic
• lark

3

as in mess

something unpleasant to look at

are you really going to hang that horror on the wall?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mess
• fright
• eyesore
• sight
• monstrosity
• hideosity
• stain
• blot
• smear
• eye-catcher
• smudge
• spot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• vision

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

• fear
• anxiety
• fearfulness
• terror
• dread
• panic
• fright
• trepidation
• scare
• dismay
• worry
• alarm
• concern
• phobia
• nervousness
• pang
• creeps
• consternation
• agitation
• jitters
• twinge
• perturbation
• funk
• apprehension
• cowardice
• disquiet
• timidity
• qualm
• willies
• discomposure
• faintheartedness
• timorousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assurance
• confidence
• boldness
• aplomb
• courage
• self-confidence
• daring
• bravery
• fortitude
• fearlessness
• gallantry
• valor
• intrepidity
• hardihood
• stoutness
• self-assurance
• nerve
• audacity
• intrepidness
• guts
• dauntlessness
• courageousness
• doughtiness

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

• disgust
• hatred
• nausea
• distaste
• revulsion
• repulsion
• repugnance
• disapproval
• loathing
• aversion
• hate
• displeasure
• abomination
• abhorrence
• antipathy
• allergy
• dislike
• disliking
• execration
• disinclination
• averseness
• disfavor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• love
• taste
• use
• preference
• appetite
• fondness
• favor
• liking
• propensity
• bent
• fancy
• predilection
• relish
• penchant
• partiality
• like
• shine

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of horror

All in the service of manufacturing consent for the greatest horror most of us have ever witnessed. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026

Her dual performance is the hook of Blumhouse’s latest Halloween offering, based on a horror novel by Josh Malerman. — A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

From wars – a Civil War, even – to presidential assassinations, fires, hurricanes, floods and what seems to be an unrelenting torrent of gun violence, our nation has seen its share of horror. — Mike Kelly, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026

One recent evening, the horror director Oren Peli stopped by one such boozer, in an alleyway off the Strand, looked around amiably, and ordered a Coke. — Anna Russell, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026