as in frightened
filled with fear or dread
terrified dogs hiding under the couch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of terrified
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, Ashley takes some of the other women to her favorite beach, and Alicia, who is used to her country club, is terrified.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
The story opens with a knock on the door that produces a terrified scream from a kid waiting inside.
—Elise Broach, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Though American Pie was all fun and games once the cameras started rolling, Shannon Elizabeth recalls being pretty terrified while trying to land a part in the hit ʼ90s comedy.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
Another video, filmed inside the bus and shared on TikTok, captured the terrified screams of students who were riding the bus at the time.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
This publicity brought a flood of calls from hundreds of terrified men around the country—many living in states where being gay was a crime that could land you in a psychiatric hospital or jail.
—Donna Lamb, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Recently, Kristen chased a terrified family with young children up a nearby stairway.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
But since the arrival of the feds, families had grown too terrified to leave home.
—Daniel Brook, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Justin Kroll, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
No matter who was in charge, the Miami Dolphins franchise have been terrified of quarterback competition for nearly two decades, and that might explain why South Florida’s NFL franchise hasn’t won a playoff game in 25 years.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Outcome focuses on a Hollywood star terrified of being canceled.
—Josh Spiegel, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2026
Less than a week after the Rangers selected him in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Adam Sýkora stood 100 stories above downtown Manhattan, terrified.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Residents of Tehran, the Iranian capital, say they are exhausted by the bombs that have battered their city on a daily basis and terrified of the security checkpoints that have popped up looking for spies.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
If the trend continues this Saturday, Republicans should be terrified.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 24 Mar. 2026
He was terrified after hearing stories about people dying in the Oklahoma County jail, which was by then recognized as one of the deadliest in the nation.
—Brianna Bailey, The Frontier, 24 Mar. 2026
Since his detainment, Maria said that she's been terrified of leaving the home.
—Conor Wight, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The pressures of fame and the pains of Michael’s brand of friendlessness are barely explored, beyond the requisite scenes of screaming fans crowding outside the family estate and a terrified Michael attempting to get away from them (while still politely waving).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, Ashley takes some of the other women to her favorite beach, and Alicia, who is used to her country club, is terrified.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
The story opens with a knock on the door that produces a terrified scream from a kid waiting inside.
—Elise Broach, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Though American Pie was all fun and games once the cameras started rolling, Shannon Elizabeth recalls being pretty terrified while trying to land a part in the hit ʼ90s comedy.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
Another video, filmed inside the bus and shared on TikTok, captured the terrified screams of students who were riding the bus at the time.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
This publicity brought a flood of calls from hundreds of terrified men around the country—many living in states where being gay was a crime that could land you in a psychiatric hospital or jail.
—Donna Lamb, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Recently, Kristen chased a terrified family with young children up a nearby stairway.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
But since the arrival of the feds, families had grown too terrified to leave home.
—Daniel Brook, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
Monitor was always meant to be experienced with a room full of people being terrified together.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
No matter who was in charge, the Miami Dolphins franchise have been terrified of quarterback competition for nearly two decades, and that might explain why South Florida’s NFL franchise hasn’t won a playoff game in 25 years.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Outcome focuses on a Hollywood star terrified of being canceled.
—Josh Spiegel, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2026
Less than a week after the Rangers selected him in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Adam Sýkora stood 100 stories above downtown Manhattan, terrified.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Residents of Tehran, the Iranian capital, say they are exhausted by the bombs that have battered their city on a daily basis and terrified of the security checkpoints that have popped up looking for spies.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
If the trend continues this Saturday, Republicans should be terrified.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 24 Mar. 2026
He was terrified after hearing stories about people dying in the Oklahoma County jail, which was by then recognized as one of the deadliest in the nation.
—Brianna Bailey, The Frontier, 24 Mar. 2026
Since his detainment, Maria said that she's been terrified of leaving the home.
—Conor Wight, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrified
Adjective
-
Fetch Foster Rescue has taken in animals from households whose homes were completely destroyed, and the organization’s immediate focus is keeping those frightened pets as relaxed as possible while storm cleanup continues across the community.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Witnesses describe the dogs as frightened and wary rather than dangerous — a pair of scared animals looking for food, not a fight.—
Ryan Brennan
April 21,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Three Grammy wins, a Men’s Health cover and 275 pounds later, the blood draw that scared him most turned out to be the decision that saved his life.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The coyote grabbed the boy and took him to the ground before a nearby adult rushed over and scared the animal away.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Maybe a lot of producers are Melissas, afraid of the present, looking toward a past that never really existed.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Miami is exceptionally good at finding role players , so don’t be afraid to trade a Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr, etc.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Horner dropped a package, McGuire said, and was startled by the team.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Littrell walked up to the man, who appeared to be startled by the singer's presence.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The others followed, and the titillated-horrified crowd quietly walked back into the night.—
Jerry Saltz,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
-
As the scene was projected onto a screen, Jude seemed slightly horrified to see himself in front of the camera rather than behind it.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Or Scott Spiezio, whose three-run thunderbolt into the right field box seats in Game 6 of the World Series against San Francisco started the comeback from a 3-2 series deficit that led to those looks of shocked amazement among long-time Angels employees the next night.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
-
After one bite, Chris looked shocked.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On the campaign trail, school board members and alarmed parents predicted marijuana would increasingly find its way into the hands of children and stoned drivers would cause more traffic collisions.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
In the 1850s, company managers were alarmed to find out shipping workers were opening crates and marking P&G containers with stars to help coworkers who couldn’t read.—
Alexander Coolidge,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
When Kennedy spreads fear, parents become fearful and often refuse vaccines, and herd immunity begins to crack.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Her Catherine is less defined by the quirky, appealing eccentricities of Mary-Louise Parker’s performance in the original 2000 Broadway staging, but is girded by a certain angry resignation, fearful of what life might have in store, furious too, yet seething with a will to defy it all.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrified. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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