as in gruesome
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
Boy Hernandez is prepping for trial, and in the act reflecting on the American dream that has turned nightmarish.
—
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Kerkering earned the win, pitching for the first time at Dodger Stadium since the nightmarish end of the 2025 National League Division Series.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 31 May 2026
The film was completed before the Challenger disaster, leaving 20th Century Fox with something of a nightmarish choice on their hands—to shelve the film and lose millions, or send it to theaters and risk a PR disaster.
—Eric Berger & Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 31 May 2026
This put me at odds with the PTO, yes, and with many of my fellow parents, who defended the PTO and its actions with a truly nightmarish fervor.
—Hannah Selinger, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
There is nothing more nightmarish for us Syrians than to be locked up again in the very prisons where so many thousands of us have died; for our mothers and fathers to have to return to the same doorsteps, to plead tearfully with the guards, to wait for a word, a rumor, a lie.
—Amer Matar, The Dial, 26 May 2026
An eerie, enchanting score by Rock Burwell giving the proceedings a dreamy, nightmarish quality.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
What begins as a simple heist spirals into a nightmarish ordeal after one sister throws out her back and becomes immobilized on the second floor.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 May 2026
Evoking Sean Baker in its style, a whirlwind 10-minute opening sequence — sweatily shot by Adam Newport-Berra and feverishly cut by editors Taylor Levy and Sofía Subercaseaux to a steady, heavy throb of bass — establishes this world to either seductive or nightmarish effect.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 May 2026
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Kerkering earned the win, pitching for the first time at Dodger Stadium since the nightmarish end of the 2025 National League Division Series.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 31 May 2026
The film was completed before the Challenger disaster, leaving 20th Century Fox with something of a nightmarish choice on their hands—to shelve the film and lose millions, or send it to theaters and risk a PR disaster.
—Eric Berger & Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 31 May 2026
This put me at odds with the PTO, yes, and with many of my fellow parents, who defended the PTO and its actions with a truly nightmarish fervor.
—Hannah Selinger, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
There is nothing more nightmarish for us Syrians than to be locked up again in the very prisons where so many thousands of us have died; for our mothers and fathers to have to return to the same doorsteps, to plead tearfully with the guards, to wait for a word, a rumor, a lie.
—Amer Matar, The Dial, 26 May 2026
An eerie, enchanting score by Rock Burwell giving the proceedings a dreamy, nightmarish quality.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
What begins as a simple heist spirals into a nightmarish ordeal after one sister throws out her back and becomes immobilized on the second floor.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 May 2026
Evoking Sean Baker in its style, a whirlwind 10-minute opening sequence — sweatily shot by Adam Newport-Berra and feverishly cut by editors Taylor Levy and Sofía Subercaseaux to a steady, heavy throb of bass — establishes this world to either seductive or nightmarish effect.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nightmarish
Adjective
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With Chubb and Phillips still on the mend from gruesome injuries the year prior, the then-rookie was thought to be the heir apparent.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
-
The case has been widely reported by China’s heavily state censored media for the gruesome details of how Xu plotted the murder.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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In 1984, following Operation Blue Star, the assassination of India's prime minister by her Sikh bodyguard triggered horrific mob violence that killed thousands of Sikhs across the country, pushing many more to flee.—
Akash Pamarthy,
NPR,
6 June 2026
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In this true crime documentary, Emmy-winning filmmaker Liz Garbus and her team examine the timeline leading up to the horrific incident, offering a different explanation behind one of New York's worst motor vehicle accidents.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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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
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This is the nightmare scenario for California Democrats.—
Tom Charron,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Where the movie’s true eccentricity comes in is in its combination of breezy comedy with shocking brutality and gore, perhaps most exemplified in an oddly casual moment in a morgue where Seagal and Wayans find a clue in the form of a serial number on a dead woman’s breast implant.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
5 June 2026
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Crayton said that the decision to allow Alabama to ignore the lower court’s ruling was shocking.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2026
Adjective
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The Savages’ social standing has dwindled to the point that only their equally horrible, grasping neighbors, the Bennetts (Richard McCabe and Vicki Pepperdine, both very funny), will fraternize with them.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
4 June 2026
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Without an ecosystem of competitive bids like Kalshi's, the customer usually walks away with a horrible deal.—
Ananya Chetia,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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In 2012, a powerful quake visited terrible damage on the city of Modena, Bottura’s home and host to his restaurant.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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The letter writer’s cousin has cancer, and the chemo gives her terrible side effects.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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The frightening encounter began several years ago when her daughter texted her from school complaining of pain just above her belly button.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
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Vampires, deadly disasters, and creeps are among those who help these frightening flicks scare the hell out of audiences.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 June 2026
Adjective
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The last episode involved horrifying doll monsters and a very illuminating mushroom trip.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2026
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Having catalogued the Black Death’s horrifying effects, Ibn Khatima went on to outline a series of preventative measures and active treatments designed to combat this merciless scourge.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nightmarish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nightmarish. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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