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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Treating speech like violence undermines a free society.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
1 June 2026
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Spain’s success over the past five years has undermined many long-standing political-economic truisms.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The Reserve Bank of Australia will likely focus on the strength of private demand before factoring in the conflict, alongside inflation risks stemming from weak productivity and rising unit labor costs, according to Stenner, who expects household consumption to weaken in the second quarter.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
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Critics counter that scarcity alone does not guarantee value if investor demand weakens.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Surround the plants with well-draining soil.—
Blythe Copeland,
Martha Stewart,
4 June 2026
-
Without the ability to point its solar arrays toward the Sun, the tumbling spacecraft likely drained its batteries within hours.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Her flesh is desiccated and gray, her hands and feet are jagged claws, and her breath comes out in rasps.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Klosterman wondered if the recent heatwave would desiccate them.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jurors exhausted after emotional trial Jurors appeared emotionally exhausted after the verdict.—
Jennifer McLogan,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
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Without any changes, that retirement trust fund will be exhausted in 2032, according to the the Social Security Trustees.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Always bring lots of water and a way for your dog to drink it so they don't get dehydrated during the walk.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
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Pest Control Baking soda acts as a barrier that dehydrates slugs, causes ants to lose their scent trail, and keeps aphids away.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
30 May 2026
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.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2026
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Campbell, the North Carolina folk singer, describes an enervating process marked by back-and-forth exchanges and lots of waiting.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Under colonial rule hijras were accused of acting as male prostitutes and of kidnapping and castrating children to grow their community.—
Charles Preston,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
28 May 2026
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If the very successful 25-year-old Coward had been caught with a man, he could have been jailed or chemically castrated.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Petrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/petrify. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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