TERRIFIED Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

terrified 1 of 2

adjective

as in frightened

filled with fear or dread terrified dogs hiding under the couch

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terrified

2 of 2

verb

past tense of terrify

as in scared

to strike with fear the prospect of speaking in front of a huge crowd of people absolutely terrifies me

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of terrified

Adjective

On the 14th floor, three of them broke into Ojeda’s apartment, handcuffed him in front of his terrified wife and son, and dragged him out, according to court documents and security video. — Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 10 July 2026 Outrage continues to grow after a drone was reported stalking a terrified wild mustang on North Carolina’s northern Outer Banks. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026 Campbell found the minister on the ground, terrified and in pain. — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026 Videos show terrified residents and collapsed buildings across Venezuela as powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck the northern coast of the country. — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 25 June 2026 The latter sequence is edge-of-your-seat stuff, expertly shot with terrified eye-to-eye closeups. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 June 2026 The shelter said Hennessy was terrified and confused and wouldn't let anyone comfort her. — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 24 June 2026 Psilocybin, in particular, appears to be highly effective for helping people with terminal illnesses feel less terrified of dying. — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 Many scenes grind to a halt with the shy girl too terrified to speak. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026

Verb

Sebastian Krautz went viral on NBC10 Boston this week after admitting he was initially terrified to travel to the United States because of news about crime and safety. — Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 4 July 2026 The old him would have been terrified of going onstage, a public humiliation waiting to happen. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026 Should Hentges have chosen unemployment instead of a contract because the Giants play in San Francisco and their organization is terrified of people like Slusser? — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026 The trailer teases Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the titular creature, who undergoes an intense transformation that leaves the townspeople terrified. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 29 June 2026 Supporters — many of them wearing Colombia’s yellow and red colors — rushed the gates at the home stadium of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, leaving fans terrified and bloodied as security struggled to contain the rush. — Nbc News, NBC news, 28 June 2026 Suddenly the seller is tiptoeing, managing the buyer's mood, terrified of saying the wrong thing and scaring them off. — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026 Supporters — many of them wearing Colombia’s yellow and red colors — rushed the gates at the home stadium of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, leaving fans terrified and bloodied as security struggled to contain the rush. — ABC News, 26 June 2026 The staff is terrified about their future, particularly chef Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas), traumatized by her last stint of unemployment. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrified

Adjective

The bear, seemingly frightened, quickly turns away from the boy and continues running, sliding under a boat parked in the driveway.

— Mason Leib, ABC News, 7 July 2026
In May, a frightened horse rammed into another carriage, causing the vehicle to flip over, injuring the driver.

— ANDREA SACHS THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2026

Definition of frightened

Verb

There was one American flag sign lit, with some storefront decor gleaming red, white and blue, but the heat seemingly scared most away from celebrating July 4 before Saturday's big day.

— Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 3 July 2026
For a family already scared and stressed, that free access made a big difference.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of scared

Adjective

If your bathroom has a basic flush mount, don’t be afraid to replace it with something more eye-catching, like a sputnik chandelier or a lantern pendant.

— Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 8 July 2026
People shouldn’t be afraid, Hammerschlag says, because human-shark encounters are extremely rare—you’re statistically more likely to be killed by lightning.

— Sam Nichols, Scientific American, 8 July 2026

Definition of afraid

Verb

Pochettino’s sources of American sports culture inspiration There were some aspects of American culture, and specifically American sports culture, that clearly startled Pochettino.

— Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Today Twain would be startled by the passivity of a once-mighty Congress that has all but crumbled in the face of pressure from the White House.

— Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026

Definition of startled

Adjective

The first police officer on the scene quickly ran back to the station for help, while neighbors calmed the horrified Lizzie.

— Sophia Zhang, Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 June 2026
As a horrified Sam inadvertently observes, a creature has been sating itself on his buddy’s brain.

— Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026

Definition of horrified

Adjective

No one is more shocked by this turn of events than KC, who takes his place among the safe Islanders with his mouth hanging open.

— Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 6 July 2026
In a stunning two-minute span in the first half, Bellingham struck twice, leaving Mexico's defense completely shell-shocked.

— Alejandro Avila, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of shocked

Adjective

But city officials don’t seem alarmed, saying that the project’s size was bound to change, and that the project is still aligned with the city code.

— Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
His long white oval scleras and perfect-circle black pupils, sometimes open and sometimes closed, are always inexplicably expressive—managing to seem happy, sad, scared, sleepy, shifty, angry, eager, alarmed, mischievous, or murderous.

— Casey Cep, New Yorker, 7 July 2026

Definition of alarmed

Adjective

With many fearful for their safety as US bombs fell from Iran’s nighttime skies with no warning, there was far more open hostility on the street.

— Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Neighbors feel less safe with ICE around The latest incident has angered the Latino community in Houston and has left others fearful.

— Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 10 July 2026

Definition of fearful

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terrifically

terrified

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“Terrified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrified. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of terrified

adjective

verb

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