NIGHTMARE Synonyms: 116 Similar and Opposite Words

nightmare 1 of 2

noun

ˈnīt-ˌmer

Definition of nightmare

as in agony

a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness that 20-page exam was a nightmare

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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

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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

One witness, Rachel Abbott, who was five years old at the time said she was plagued by nightmares for the rest of her life after seeing the hanging. — Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026 Their aggressive nature could really turn into a nightmare for Daniel Jones, who has seemingly looked a bit off to start the year, with at least one turnover in each game so far. — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026

Adjective

This is the nightmare scenario behind the Kessler syndrome, a cascading chain of collisions that could render entire orbital pathways unusable. — Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for nightmare

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nightmare

Noun

The prisoner in question, Doug Korpi, had also admitted that his agony was an act to journalist Ben Blum, who included the revelation in a broader takedown of the experiment published in 2018.

— Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
The daughters of burning witches were sometimes made to stand close to the pyre, being whipped by locals while watching their mothers die in agony.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of agony

Adjective

What followed was a horrific night of physical and mental spousal abuse, which Adams describes in searing, emotional prose.

— Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
Recently, Wahid was the lead defense attorney in the death penalty case of a Miami man who pleaded guilty to the horrific triple homicide of his estranged wife and her two young daughters.

— Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of horrific

Noun

Adding to the misery, Jason Sanders — a longtime Dolphins kicker in his first season with the Jets — hit the right upright on a 40-yard try.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
With Dunham as creator, showrunner and star, the original series ran from 2012 to 2017 and followed a group of friends through the misery and dysfunction of their 20s in New York City.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of misery

Noun

This article contains spoilers from popular horror movies and shows.

— Arryn Robbins, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026
First introduced in Stephen King’s 1974 novel, Carrie, the character was immortalized in director Brian De Palma’s 1976 adaptation, widely regarded as one of the best horror films of all time.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of horror

Adjective

The mother of a toddler who was found breathing in a hospital morgue hours after being pronounced dead is speaking out about the shocking incident.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Sunday’s shocking loss to the Arizona Cardinals dropped Los Angeles to 2-4, and, suddenly, a team that entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations is fighting to stay in the playoff picture.

— Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of shocking

Noun

After hours of torture, Chamberlain managed to free one of her hands from a pair of handcuffs with her teeth, unclip a leather leg restraint and quietly bolt out the door as Evonitz slept.

— Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
The psychological torture of this show on its audience knows no bounds.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of torture

Adjective

In most versions of the Greek mythology, Medusa is a beautiful woman that was cursed by the goddess Athena with a head of snakes instead of hair and the horrible ability to turn people to stone with just one look.

— Lynsey Eidell, Glamour, 26 Oct. 2026
The battle is between that horrible atmosphere and some of the horrific candidates that have been nominated by the Democratic Party.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of horrible

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nightly

nightmare

nightmares

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Style

“Nightmare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nightmare. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of nightmare

noun

adjective

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