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
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
Video footage from the rescue shows the terrified dog shivering as the officer calls her.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026
Once in the hands of the incensed and terrified Portuguese authorities, Amador was swiftly punished.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Read more about the series of events that have left Uhrlaub, in her own words, terrified.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
Responses to Whitmire and Diaz Travis Fife, an attorney for the Texas Civil Rights Project, said the mayor seemed to acknowledge that Wednesday’s changes were in reality doubling down on enforcement practices that have left some Houstonians terrified.
—John Wayne Ferguson, Houston Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2026
Everyone is terrified but grateful for this gift Ennis and Gary have given them.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
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
Patrick could move there tomorrow, but Russell has to be terrified of every sound.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Viewers are also introduced to Marjorie (Blair Beeken), the activities lead at Oak Canyon Ranch, as well as Rockin’ Grandma’s sole remote worker, web designer Claire (Rachel Kaly), who appears to be terrified by the sun and wholly unnerved by other human beings.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
As 1994 approached, the United States was on the verge of hosting the World Cup — but national soccer officials were terrified that the home team was about to humiliate itself on a global stage.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
Public testimony stretched for hours, where speakers shared concerns that the legislation could have legal repercussions, disrupt community relationships with local law enforcement and make immigrants terrified to interact with police, school or hospital staff.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
Video footage from the rescue shows the terrified dog shivering as the officer calls her.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026
Once in the hands of the incensed and terrified Portuguese authorities, Amador was swiftly punished.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Read more about the series of events that have left Uhrlaub, in her own words, terrified.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
Responses to Whitmire and Diaz Travis Fife, an attorney for the Texas Civil Rights Project, said the mayor seemed to acknowledge that Wednesday’s changes were in reality doubling down on enforcement practices that have left some Houstonians terrified.
—John Wayne Ferguson, Houston Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2026
Everyone is terrified but grateful for this gift Ennis and Gary have given them.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
Patrick could move there tomorrow, but Russell has to be terrified of every sound.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Viewers are also introduced to Marjorie (Blair Beeken), the activities lead at Oak Canyon Ranch, as well as Rockin’ Grandma’s sole remote worker, web designer Claire (Rachel Kaly), who appears to be terrified by the sun and wholly unnerved by other human beings.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
As 1994 approached, the United States was on the verge of hosting the World Cup — but national soccer officials were terrified that the home team was about to humiliate itself on a global stage.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
Public testimony stretched for hours, where speakers shared concerns that the legislation could have legal repercussions, disrupt community relationships with local law enforcement and make immigrants terrified to interact with police, school or hospital staff.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrified
Adjective
-
Soapy Water Stink bugs tend to drop when frightened, so fill a cup with soapy water and hold it under the stink bug.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Their height and heft frightened and thrilled spectators, earning dinosaurs a permanent place in the public imagination, Coules said.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Scared of monsters under the bed, scared to go to school, scared of everything — that was sweet, gentle Juliet.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Bossche says the encounter with the rattler hasn't scared her off the trails for good.—
Jasmine Viel,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Don’t be afraid to wear your heart on your sleeve.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Is the economy struggling, with layoffs and wary investors afraid to lend?—
Alex Mayyasi,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kevin Uribe, another employee, said the sound of the collapse initially startled him.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
2 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
-
This little bird was a horrified little lump that just kept falling over his feet.—
Emma Forgione,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The horrified fisherman ran out to the street to hail the Mascotte police chief, who was directing traffic in front of a nearby elementary school.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Millen got shell-shocked, got phased out and eventually transferred out.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
-
On Sunday, Lindsay Hubbard posted a selfie with Miller to her Instagram Stories, and a second still of herself from Summer House with a shocked reaction.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Last week, Narges was finally allowed a brief visit with her sister and two lawyers, who were alarmed at how rapidly her health had deteriorated.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
People gather under the trees during the season of hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, and the collapse of trees has alarmed officials in Tokyo, the birthplace of the cherry blossom variety.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Many stayed home with their families, fearful of the ICE surge in Columbia Heights, Minnesota.—
Jennifer Mayerle,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Niall is mild-mannered, repressed, and fearful of facing his sexuality.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrified. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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