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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 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

Verb

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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrified

Adjective

Perel compares the moment facing today’s executives to the one facing a parent with a frightened child.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 17 July 2026
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

Definition of frightened

Adjective

Prosecutors said all three women knew Lux by name and appearance, and one reported more than 50 encounters that authorities said escalated over time, eventually leaving employees afraid to work around him.

— Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
But defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and LBs coach Shaun Dion Hamilton aren’t afraid to play rookies.

— Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of afraid

Verb

Stone Mountain, Georgia — Jean Shifrin was hiking up a steep mountain trail on the Fourth of July when she was startled by something approaching her from behind.

— John Blake, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
Exactly two years ago tomorrow, an unexpected visitor startled a homeowner in Hillsborough, New Jersey.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 July 2026

Definition of startled

Adjective

In one early scene, a horrified Pam stares into her bathroom mirror, covered head to toe in blood.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026
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

Definition of horrified

Adjective

The first season ended with a big cliffhanger, in which Cooper emerged from a cocoon after a transformation to a shocked reaction though his appearance was not revealed.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 July 2026
In Atlanta last week, Mohamed Salah and his Egypt team-mates walked out of the stadium in shocked silence.

— Oliver Kay, New York Times, 12 July 2026

Definition of shocked

Adjective

Elsewhere alarmed Palestinian farmers—witnessing the growing trench tearing them away from their lands—surround the vehicles.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
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

Definition of alarmed

Adjective

Team members can feel disconnected and fearful that the new boss will damage their existing culture and maybe even eliminate their roles, as with outsourcing to AI.

— Liz Guthridge, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
The facing page depicts a mother, fearful, sneaking away to protect her new child.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026

Definition of fearful

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terrifically

terrified

terrifies

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“Terrified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrified. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of terrified

adjective

verb

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