as in to undermine
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
groupthink and peer pressure have so petrified the thinking of the company's top brass that they haven't produced an innovative product in years
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Recent Examples of petrify
The former slingshots between harmony and hysteria; the latter petrifies its beauty under a haze of ashy gray powder.
—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
28 Nov. 2025
You'll be petrified by the violence inflicted upon boys who only wanted a chance to pull their families out of financial duress and have an opportunity at a comfortable life afforded to most of us sitting in our seats.
—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
13 Sep. 2025
So don’t go around being petrified of having your esophagus rupture someday.
—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Nearly every day brings a fresh breach of what were once thought to be the rules, moves that have thrilled his insurgent supporters and petrified his nervous opponents.
—
Peter Baker,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for petrify
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
28 Nov. 2025
You'll be petrified by the violence inflicted upon boys who only wanted a chance to pull their families out of financial duress and have an opportunity at a comfortable life afforded to most of us sitting in our seats.
—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
13 Sep. 2025
So don’t go around being petrified of having your esophagus rupture someday.
—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Nearly every day brings a fresh breach of what were once thought to be the rules, moves that have thrilled his insurgent supporters and petrified his nervous opponents.
—
Peter Baker,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for petrify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for petrify
Verb
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Context that undermines sensational allegations is minimized.
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Allies include Brin’s Building a Better California, which is bankrolling two counter-measures aimed at undermining the billionaire tax.
Verb
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The flow of dark traffic is one of the factors that helped explain why oil markets had weakened significantly by early June, together with a surge in exports from the US and pullback in buying by China.
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But as several surveys have consistently indicated, optimism about our country's outlook has undeniably weakened.
Verb
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Conwell drained a three on his first shot but then missed six in a row, before hitting another three late in the third quarter.
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The promotion dropped on Monday, June 29 and almost immediately, the original $150,000 budget allocated to the promotion was drained —covering some 25,000 pulls.
Verb
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Another advantage of long and narrow leaves is their ability to withstand heavy rainfall and battering or desiccating winds.
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Her flesh is desiccated and gray, her hands and feet are jagged claws, and her breath comes out in rasps.
Verb
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In the finals, Israel faced an Australian team already exhausted after fending off South Korea, Japan and Rhodesia (itself in the Asian tournament after being banned in Africa over its white governing regime).
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For years, people have been frustrated and exhausted by the seemingly endless amount of swiping and small talk that go nowhere on dating apps.
Verb
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Before the vaccine became available in 2006, nearly every child contracted the virus by age 5, often leading to severe dehydrating diarrhea, the CDC states.
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Alcohol worsens sleep quality and dehydrates the body, while caffeine has a diuretic effect that encourages fluid loss and can raise body temperature.
Verb
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The impact of that shocking final scene is sufficient to send viewers out feeling enervated after what’s been a pretty desultory final act.
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Campbell, the North Carolina folk singer, describes an enervating process marked by back-and-forth exchanges and lots of waiting.
Verb
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Earlier this month, on Monday, June 8, Municipal Court Judge Louis Sancinito found Lowe guilty of possessing the deer without a permit, interfering with a conservation officer attempting to confiscate the animal, and having Rudy illegally castrated.
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Seemingly to help stave off temptation, a half dozen of the 18 male cult members who died had been surgically castrated, according to The New York Times, including Applewhite.
Cite this Entry
“Petrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/petrify. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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