PETRIFY Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

petrify

verb

ˈpe-trə-ˌfī

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 only issue is his mother Laura (Wright), a woman who has lost a child once before and is petrified of a repeat. —

Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 5 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 He was petrified by the thought of dying of cancer or some other disease whose senselessness disgusted him. —

Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for petrify

Recent Examples of Synonyms for petrify

Verb

Anwar, the state lawmaker and physician, expressed concern that lawsuits undermine patients’ faith in their doctors.

— Noam N. Levey, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2026
The move comes amid a broader crackdown on speech since the start of the Iran war, targeting those expressing support for Tehran or criticism of Gulf governments, and the publication of images of war damage, which are seen as undermining public confidence and stability.

— Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 20 Apr. 2026