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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nightmare
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
What unfolds is a gory nightmare revisiting past traumas.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Nic Juarez, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nightmare
Noun
The 76ers' run of seven straight trips to the playoffs crashed into a 24-58 nightmare that saw stars Joel Embiid miss 63 games, Paul George sit for 41, and Tyrese Maxey for 30.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
What unfolds is a gory nightmare revisiting past traumas.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
That alone would be nightmare enough, but this debate has been constructed and is moderated by Sam Reich.
—Nic Juarez, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nightmare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nightmare
Noun
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Bryant is the type of player whose expression can often tell the story of the day, both in times of joy and agony.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Stafford danced for six minutes while wearing them but spent 14 hours in agony.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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His horrific crimes went on to inspire classic horror movies like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Silence of the Lambs and Psycho.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
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Reading out the verdict, Korner recounted the horrific crimes committed by Abd–Al-Rahman, including gang rapes, abuse, and mass killings.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These sequences feel so siloed off that the misery never informs the majesty, and vice versa.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Oct. 2025
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That would be a fine enough place to end the story, and in Garrett’s original screenplay, the final pages only extended that misery.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For reasons that are still not fully understood, Gein then developed a gruesome interest in human bodies.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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What began with the worst attack on Israeli soil in the country’s history—when Hamas killed twelve hundred Israelis and took more than two hundred hostages on October 7, 2023—has led to a gruesome war.—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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O’Hara made her directorial debut on Tubi pic Root Letter, starring Danny Ramirez, before directing the Lionsgate horror movie, Mid-Century (Peacock), starring Stephan Lang and Bruce Dern.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
9 Oct. 2025
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Some of the best horror film fashions have been unexpectedly glamorous.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Instead, Republicans are pressuring Democrats to condemn Jones and urge him to leave the race after last month’s shocking killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk reignited a national conversation about political violence.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Oct. 2025
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Now, series creator Anthony Zuiker is opening up about the shocking casting decision and its lasting consequences.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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An accomplished drummer and guitarist, Becker has dedicated his adult life to issues of international human rights and social justice, documenting war crimes in Lebanon, genocide in Rwanda, and the torture of the indigenous people of India.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
9 Oct. 2025
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The Socialist Party building at Londres 38, in the heart of Santiago, was acquired and turned into a secret interrogation and torture centre, known as the Yucatán Barracks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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While that might be great for the profitability in real estate, in consumer goods and apparel, that’s horrible.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Oct. 2025
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In the past, the Soviet Union had a horrible impact on Georgian wine.—
Jessica Jungbauer,
Vogue,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nightmare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nightmare. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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