as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent
a photographic exhibit of nightmarish images from the wars of the 20th century
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Recent Examples of nightmarish
Rohal’s adaptation begins with a fake pre-show that might exist at a nightmarish MAGA version of AMC Theaters.
—
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2025
At some point desperation will set in, but for now the Miami Dolphins are seemingly staying composed despite getting off to a nightmarish 0-3 start this season.
—Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Finney's younger sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) is bothered by nightmarish visions of an alpine camp, and the siblings investigate only to discover that the Grabber has found a way to torture from the other side.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
For the most part, the documentary takes a minute-by-minute look at that fateful morning, with so much intensity and nightmarish immediacy that there’s very little time or room to ask questions or think about anything beyond the next moment.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2025
Players must navigate nightmarish mazes where monsters lurk at every turn.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
For Chondwe, that conjured up nightmarish memories of the 1980s, '90s and early 2000s, when HIV had decimated his community.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 6 Sep. 2025
To break this nightmarish cycle, every bit of it has to change.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
The nightmarish series of events in Miami sent the Yankees from 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2025
At some point desperation will set in, but for now the Miami Dolphins are seemingly staying composed despite getting off to a nightmarish 0-3 start this season.
—Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Finney's younger sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) is bothered by nightmarish visions of an alpine camp, and the siblings investigate only to discover that the Grabber has found a way to torture from the other side.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
For the most part, the documentary takes a minute-by-minute look at that fateful morning, with so much intensity and nightmarish immediacy that there’s very little time or room to ask questions or think about anything beyond the next moment.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2025
Players must navigate nightmarish mazes where monsters lurk at every turn.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
For Chondwe, that conjured up nightmarish memories of the 1980s, '90s and early 2000s, when HIV had decimated his community.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 6 Sep. 2025
To break this nightmarish cycle, every bit of it has to change.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
The nightmarish series of events in Miami sent the Yankees from 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nightmarish
Adjective
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Those bots have attracted lawsuits in horrific instances where users lost their grip on reality or took their own lives after interacting with them.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
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Many of the base’s survivors have similarly described the singularly horrific nature of those 45 square miles in eastern Cuba.—
Miriam Pensack,
The Dial,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Gein committed many gruesome crimes, but cannibalism was not one of them.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
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But one photo, far less gruesome, has been gnawing at me for weeks.—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That alone would be nightmare enough, but this debate has been constructed and is moderated by Sam Reich.—
Nic Juarez,
Vulture,
14 Aug. 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
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
Adjective
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That's a terrible average to bet your life on.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
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When his estranged daughter Sam tracks him down, in a last-ditch effort to dig her way out of serious trouble, Mickey must choose between rekindling his relationship with his daughter in the face of a terrible tragedy or pursuing a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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What began as a hiking trip with friends on the breathtaking slopes of on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest turned into a frightening ordeal for 30-year-old Feng Holiday, after a rare October blizzard left her and hundreds of hikers stranded in treacherous conditions.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
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Meanwhile, the movie's kinetic animation and Ichabod's rubbery physicality playfully contrast with the truly frightening Horseman and his flaming pumpkin.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Although the film’s setting and plot differ significantly from Gein’s real-life crimes, the filmmaker drew on his interest in human skin to make his Leatherface killer more horrifying.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
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In a horrifying set of circumstances, his death was captured on a stranger’s livestream with some 500 people watching.—
Maya Silver,
Outside,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nightmarish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nightmarish. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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