nightmare 1 of 2

noun

ˈnīt-ˌmer How to pronounce nightmare (audio)
Definition of nightmarenext
as in agony
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness that 20-page exam was a nightmare

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nightmare

2 of 2

adjective

as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent survivors of a nuclear holocaust would surely face a nightmare existence

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 nightmare
Noun
The past few summers have seen nightmare tales from heatwaves in Europe — the continent with the fastest-rising temperatures under global warming. — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 Two more misses by Ahmed Sayed Zizo and Mostafa Mohamed, and Egypt’s World Cup nightmare was back to haunt them. — Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Adjective
But the 22-year-old is not alone in having a nightmare individual performance on a high-profile sporting stage. — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026 This is the nightmare scenario for California Democrats. — Tom Charron, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nightmare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nightmare
  1. agony
  2. horrific
  3. misery
  4. gruesome
  5. horror
  6. shocking
  7. torture
  8. horrible
Noun
  • Rojas said the earthquakes have caused agony for Venezuelan players, even those who didn’t lose family or friends.
    — Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2026
  • There were the two calls in September, one about a detainee who lay on the floor holding his stomach in agony and unable to speak after swallowing an unknown object.
    — Perla Trevizo, ProPublica, 3 July 2026
Definition of agony
Adjective
  • Gerardi and his horrific murder have remained relevant in the decades since.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026
  • To be sure, the thugs of Hamas and Hezbollah committed a horrific massacre of young Jewish civilians enjoying a music festival on October 7, 2023.
    — DP Opinion, Denver Post, 6 July 2026
Definition of horrific
Noun
  • Nobody, save biblical Job, has had more misery hurled at them.
    — Alex Pulaski, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Salvador Perez added to Sanchez's misery with his 11th home run in the second.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
Definition of misery
Adjective
  • The more time passes, the more gruesome the recovery process becomes, said William Gomez, a firefighter in La Guaira.
    — Fernanda Pesce, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Family and loved ones are remembering Brittany Clark, the former Sacramento resident and Kennedy High School student killed by an alligator in a Florida river, as officials there released new details of the gruesome attack.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of gruesome
Noun
  • Ganfield described the ordeal as a scene straight out of a horror movie.
    — Jazmin Alvarado, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • The series proceeds from a premise that immediately calls to mind the darkly comic horror movie The Substance, an underdog 2024 Best Picture contender that earned Oscar nominations for both its director, Coralie Fargeat, and its star, Demi Moore.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
Definition of horror
Adjective
  • The Packers then blew a 21-3 halftime lead in the Wild Card round against Chicago, gave up 25 fourth quarter points and eventually suffered a shocking 31-27 loss to the arch-rival Bears.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Here’s a look back at the most infamous, shocking, blood-curdling or mysterious crimes and disasters that captured the attention of the nation — and the world.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
Definition of shocking
Noun
  • Authorities said the basement of the former law enforcement officer’s home appeared to be used as a torture chamber.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • During searches, authorities also found what the SBU described as a basement resembling a torture chamber at the former law enforcement officer’s home.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
Definition of torture
Adjective
  • And obviously, slavery was a terrible thing, and that was horrible.
    — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • Horton, who married Rickman in 2012 in a private ceremony after more than 40 years together, also told the outlet that the diagnosis had been a horrible shock to them both.
    — Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026
Definition of horrible

Browse Nearby Words

nightly
nightmare
nightmares
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Cite this Entry

“Nightmare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nightmare. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nightmare

Nglish: Translation of nightmare for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nightmare

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