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

Savannah previously discussed her decision to return to the Today show with Hoda Kotb amid her family’s personal nightmare. — Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2026 Stylistically, the film draws from horror and sci-fi cinema to depict how a picturesque American Midwestern city is turned into a dystopian nightmare. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 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

There are few harsher agonies than waiting, and throughout the great expanse of the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix presented by Rolex at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’, two riders felt that in very different ways.

— Tilly Berendt, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
But for Roma, the agony for his missing son did not end that day.

— Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of agony

Adjective

For advocates, the law speaks to the horrific circumstances families can endure when a medical issue is misconstrued as abuse.

— Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
This is your big opportunity to pay tribute, to be a uniter, not a divider, on the day recalling the horrific events of a quarter century ago.

— Ken Frydman, New York Daily News, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of horrific

Noun

Illinoisans should demand state investments that serve struggling communities, instead of needlessly expanding the misery of our prison system.

— Joan Steffen, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026
At one point, a man placed a hand on Bibendum’s shoulder and led him offstage, as if to be put out of his misery.

— Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of misery

Adjective

The Menendez brothers, imprisoned 37 years in the gruesome murder of their parents, are getting a second shot at freedom.

— Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Simply to give us the gruesome scene of the kid convulsing to death while leaking blood from his eyes, nose, and mouth.

— Chris Klimek, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of gruesome

Noun

Binge is author of speculative thrillers that often blends big sci-fi concepts with psychological horror.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
The Halloween Film Festival is set to showcase 50 short genre films, including horror, sci-fi, thriller and fantasy titles and fans can vote on their favorites.

— William Earl, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of horror

Adjective

That whole sequence with Troy and Susan at the start of this episode is just … shocking.

— Noel Murray, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
Other films have handled the shocking deaths of romantic leads with more grace — Anne Hathaway riding her bike in front of a certain semi-truck in 2011 comes to mind — even while doing objectively less to ensure that they’re understood.

— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of shocking

Noun

Among them was the revival of medieval doctrines of just war, which subordinated contractual obligations to unilateral claims of moral authority—doctrines that resurfaced during the war on terror to justify pre-emptive attacks and torture.

— Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026
Wolfson has used animation, video, virtual reality, sculpture, and terrifying robotic figures to render technology as a form of psychological torture and slapstick comedy.

— Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of torture

Adjective

Much has been written about the power of artificial intelligence to improve life in myriad ways, but also about its truly horrible effects—now and going forward—if it isn’t managed properly.

— Nadine Hack, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
But the horrible scenes that unfolded before him were incomparable.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of horrible

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nightly

nightmare

nightmares

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“Nightmare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nightmare. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of nightmare

noun

adjective

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