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
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
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Recent Examples of nightmare
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 May 2025
If successful, this loss will be a nightmare scenario for climate science, not just in the United States, but the world.
—Eric Morgan, Wired News, 10 May 2025
That would create an unworkable administrative nightmare for everyone involved.
—Ian Millhiser, Vox, 9 May 2025
Abe purchases a mechanical arm that holds the promise of solving all his problems but instead a nightmare ensues as the couple are terrorized by a ghoulish sales rep.
CEO: C-suite news, analysis, and advice for top decision makers right to your inbox.
—Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nightmare
Noun
The sixth film centers on a college student with violent nightmares, who returns home to find the one person who can break the cycle and save her family from the horrific fate that inevitably awaits them.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 May 2025
If successful, this loss will be a nightmare scenario for climate science, not just in the United States, but the world.
—Eric Morgan, Wired News, 10 May 2025
That would create an unworkable administrative nightmare for everyone involved.
—Ian Millhiser, Vox, 9 May 2025
Abe purchases a mechanical arm that holds the promise of solving all his problems but instead a nightmare ensues as the couple are terrorized by a ghoulish sales rep.
CEO: C-suite news, analysis, and advice for top decision makers right to your inbox.
—Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nightmare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nightmare
Noun
-
In video of the attack released by police at the time, she can be heard screaming in agony.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2025
-
Dropping dramatically to the floor, Busquets writhed in agony and Motta was duly sent off.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Abuse Of Power: Season 1 (May 19) Long-running ID series American Monster enters a new chapter with Abuse of Power, a long-form series that takes on cases where horrific crimes and scandals were covered up and disposed of by authority figures.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
16 May 2025
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Sheriff’s officials released footage that showed the horrific attack.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2025
Noun
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Some of his misery has resulted from brilliant deflections or bad bounces off of his defencemen, but Hellebuyck is responsible for enough of his problems to earn the unwanted attention.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Strangling the dog to put it out of its misery could be seen as both an act of cruelty and an act of generosity, and that contradiction is interesting.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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It was later discovered he had been killed in a gruesome attack that U.S. intelligence says was ordered by the country's de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
16 May 2025
-
But the rich emotional depth of that film is matched in Bring Her Back, a horror movie that delights in gruesome practical effects but also presents a nuanced character study, with little judgement passed on its bereaved antagonist, Laura.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
16 May 2025
Noun
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Clown in a Cornfield director Eli Craig — the son of iconic actor Sally Field — is sharing his mom’s reaction to his new horror comedy.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
-
Like the slicker-wearing fisherman, the world of the 1997 slasher is coming back to life, with an all-new entry in the horror film franchise.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
-
During a text exchange afterwards, Hanley asked Sobule if the New York experience was shocking.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
9 May 2025
-
May 5, 2025: Leo attends his first Met Gala (which is kind of shocking in and of itself) alongside Ceretti, who made her Met Gala debut in 2021.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
9 May 2025
Noun
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Maduro, accusing them of participating in a coup, began a brutal crackdown, which has included the torture, secret detention, and killing of protesters, opposition-party members, and their relatives, according to Human Rights Watch.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
10 May 2025
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Victims were subjected to enslavement, forced disappearance, torture and murder, among other crimes, the investigators found.—
Renata Brito,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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However, her tragic demise spooks and haunts Jen, since her death is incredibly horrible and sad, rocking the whole Capesode community.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
14 May 2025
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Jurors viewed for a fifth time in two days the video footage of the horrible beating that followed.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nightmare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nightmare. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
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