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
This sci-fi hit helped to redefine the real-time strategy genre, focusing on tactical-level engagements that pitted the mighty space marines against the worst that the nightmarish gothic future of the Warhammer 40K universe had to offer.
—
Alan Bradley, Space.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Soon, disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance draw him into a nightmarish confrontation with the darkest corners of his past.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
Instead, the director portrays the nightmarish baggage that comes with fighting to achieve victory outside the mainstream.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2025
Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein’s latest collaboration is a spiritual sequel to their 2019 masterpiece, once again putting an undeniably charming schemer through a nightmarish gauntlet of trials and tribulations to chase an impossible dream.
—Anastasia Sanger, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025
That nightmarish sound is bound to go viral.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025
In a 2018 episode, Nick detailed a nightmarish experience relapsing into heroin use.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
But making Longlegs with Nicolas Cage and as a tense FBI procedural steeped in occult horror and nightmarish visions got Perkins onto winning ways.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 6 Dec. 2025
Audiences react to jump scares, body horror, and skin-crawling nightmarish imagery, but all work in tandem with audio — or the intentional lack thereof — to drive home discomfort.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 3 Dec. 2025
Alan Bradley, Space.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Soon, disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance draw him into a nightmarish confrontation with the darkest corners of his past.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
Instead, the director portrays the nightmarish baggage that comes with fighting to achieve victory outside the mainstream.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2025
Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein’s latest collaboration is a spiritual sequel to their 2019 masterpiece, once again putting an undeniably charming schemer through a nightmarish gauntlet of trials and tribulations to chase an impossible dream.
—Anastasia Sanger, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025
That nightmarish sound is bound to go viral.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025
In a 2018 episode, Nick detailed a nightmarish experience relapsing into heroin use.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
But making Longlegs with Nicolas Cage and as a tense FBI procedural steeped in occult horror and nightmarish visions got Perkins onto winning ways.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 6 Dec. 2025
Audiences react to jump scares, body horror, and skin-crawling nightmarish imagery, but all work in tandem with audio — or the intentional lack thereof — to drive home discomfort.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 3 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nightmarish
Adjective
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Von had been Trump-friendly before the gruesome and heartbreaking videos of the ICE raids targeting working immigrants started going viral on social media.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
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Daniels suffered his gruesome non-throwing-arm injury during the fourth quarter of Week 9's blowout loss to the Seahawks.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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As this horrific scene is being investigated, prayers on behalf of our entire International Union are with those killed, injured, and affected, including their families, co-workers, and loved ones.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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The Washington Commanders took the brunt of criticism on Sunday after quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a horrific arm injury in the team’s 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 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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The shocking decision sends ripples through the Washington program and the college football transfer portal.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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There are some great twists and turns leading to a shocking but very satisfying ending.—
Will Harris,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Are there horrible smells wafting around?—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Jimmy Kimmel was horrible, and some of these people.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The groundbreaking research penetrated the last moments of the young nobleman, who suffered a terrible 26 blows.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
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History is full of cases where great bands make terrible records, yet history stands speechless at what the Clash accomplished here.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Experts immediately pointed out that Hassett had used a misleading method known as a cubic fit to make the mortality data appear less frightening.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
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When the sun went down, the Santa Anas began to blow, and the fire shifted into the familiar, frightening rhythm of inevitability.—
Jonathan Taplin,
Rolling Stone,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Over the weekend, we were reminded of an even more horrifying football ritual following the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
5 Jan. 2026
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But this super drug has horrifying consequences.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nightmarish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nightmarish. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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