Synonyms of terrified

terrified 1 of 2

adjective

as in frightened

filled with fear or dread

terrified dogs hiding under the couch

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frightened
• afraid
• scared
• horrified
• shocked
• alarmed
• fearful
• worried
• aghast
• spooked
• startled
• upset
• affrighted
• panicked
• scary
• nervous
• terrorized
• hysterical
• appalled
• anxious
• apprehensive
• horror-struck
• timid
• disturbed
• panicky
• timorous
• agitated
• perturbed
• shrinking
• disquieted
• wary
• phobic
• fainthearted
• disconcerted
• intimidated
• tremulous
• uneasy
• daunted
• jumpy
• unnerved
• dismayed
• cowed
• cautious
• shy
• jittery
• panic-stricken
• fearsome
• coward
• careful
• chicken
• cowardly
• funky
• pusillanimous
• skittish
• craven
• gutless
• unadventurous
• heedful
• tremulant
• lily-livered
• prudent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fearless
• unafraid
• daring
• adventurous
• brave
• audacious
• spirited
• bold
• courageous
• spunky
• gutsy
• plucky
• daredevil
• venturesome
• confident
• intrepid
• heroic
• sure
• dashing
• hardy
• valiant
• collected
• composed
• unperturbed
• assured
• stalwart
• gallant
• stout
• valorous
• adventuresome
• venturous
• cool
• sanguine
• undaunted
• stouthearted
• dauntless
• resolute
• lionhearted
• manful

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frightened
• scared
• startled
• spooked
• horrified
• shocked
• panicked
• alarmed
• terrorized
• frighted
• affrighted
• shook
• scarified
• worried
• amazed
• appalled
• dismayed
• distracted
• astounded
• awed
• gave one the creeps
• made one's flesh creep
• daunted
• jolted
• disturbed
• unnerved
• upset
• shook up
• disconcerted
• unsettled
• dispirited
• emasculated
• perturbed
• distressed
• disquieted
• bowled over
• discomforted
• floored
• demoralized
• psyched (out)
• chilled
• unmanned
• discomposed
• undid
• unstrung

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassured
• assured
• comforted
• cheered
• consoled
• soothed
• encouraged
• inspired
• emboldened
• heartened
• solaced
• steeled

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of terrified

Adjective

As their captors sought cover, the terrified children were ordered to stay and shoot down the jets over the capital, Khartoum. — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026

Fuelled by unhinged online hate and anti-Israel extremism, total violent hate crimes skyrocketed by 97% since 2022, forcing terrified Jewish communities around the world into hiding. — Staff, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026

Once again playing a terrified woman, Lucky stops a man to ask for his help to save her from Cary. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

The child runs back inside the bodega seeking safety before collapsing near the front counter as terrified customers scramble for cover. — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026

Appropriately terrified, Russ jumps backward, shattering the window. — Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026

The driver of the number 302 bus, who has not been identified, found the terrified animal towards the end of the route from Mill Hill Broadway to Kensal Rise in north-west London, on Friday morning. — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

Most people arrive terrified and as Dune famously advised, let their fear move over them and through them. — Literary Hub, 21 July 2026

Part of his charm here included playing the stalwart father figure to two terrified kids — someone a child could trust to stick around and keep watch all night when the dinosaurs came chomping. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 14 July 2026

Verb

Selling meant losing all of that in one signature, and some deep, unspoken part of her was terrified of what came next. — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

In a case like the Davis stabbings that terrified a community, there might have been a public outcry if former Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig hadn’t charged Dominguez with murder, Reichel said. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 27 July 2026

In the film, Cameron is terrified of his dad, but still lets Ferris convince him to drive his dad’s incredible car, a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder. — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026

While some car companies have lobbied the government, terrified, asking to build protective walls to fend off cheap Chinese competition, others have looked at the problem from a different angle, trying to meet the moment. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026

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