nightmarish

adjective

Definition of nightmarishnext
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent a photographic exhibit of nightmarish images from the wars of the 20th century

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 nightmarish The nightmarish death prompted Six Flags to temporarily close nine similar coasters across North America. — Kate Brumback, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026 The novel’s alternate realities are split like a nightmarish LP — the party in Silver Lake pops off on the A-side where, soon, most territories will be contested, and militias and gunfire will become ubiquitous. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 What begins with the promise of something genuinely nightmarish gradually deteriorates into a disappointingly conventional, occasionally laughable supernatural exercise. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026 Rodgers bounced back from a nightmarish performance in a dismal loss to New England by throwing for 292 yards and three touchdowns to outduel Joe Burrow as the Steelers pulled out a 30-27 thriller. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026 So far, the sequel is off to a nightmarish start, and neither Ballard nor Steichen should feel safe after being at the helm of such an embarrassing showing. — James Boyd, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 As Pattinson spends a long night trying to rescue his brother, the Safdies weave a nightmarish, impressionistic vision of New York that ranks among the most unsettling cinematic depictions of the city. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026 There's little parking at the Coliseum, meaning fans are forced into a nightmarish hellscape of distant structures, and the security lines are infamously awful at an old stadium. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 The idea sounded at once mystical, therapeutic, and nightmarish. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nightmarish
  1. gruesome
  2. horrific
  3. nightmare
  4. shocking
  5. horrible
  6. terrible
  7. frightening
  8. horrifying
Adjective
  • Then there is Gemini, whose brief tenure as a public company has been simply gruesome.
    — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Lechner was a member of the 75th Rangers in Somalia and suffered a gruesome gunshot wound to his tibia.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of gruesome
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
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
Definition of nightmare
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
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
Adjective
  • His teams are terrible just before halftime, having been outscored 107-6 in the coach's 24 games.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • If the purpose of buying a suit were merely obtaining clothing, three fittings would be terrible service.
    — Anna van Praagh, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • As the frightening phantom of Frank the Bunny warns, this parallel reality has a ticking clock that’ll result in its imminent collapse in just 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • For neighbors, the crash brought a frightening interruption to an otherwise routine afternoon.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • The supermodel, known for going above and beyond with her elaborate (and often horrifying) costume creations, has unveiled a sneak peek at this year’s outfit.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2026
  • To see that beautiful sense of community shattered by senseless violence is devastating, and learning that multiple victims are children is even more horrifying.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of horrifying

Browse Nearby Words

nightmares
nightmarish
night owl
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Cite this Entry

“Nightmarish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nightmarish. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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