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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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

Even after the attacker was restrained, passengers remained terrified. — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 This kind of conversation always leaves me half-amused, half-terrified. — Alicja Turczyk, The Dial, 29 Sep. 2026 His recent Instagram video of an iguana by his pool went viral, as a terrified Antetokounmpo watched the iguana from inside his new Pinecrest home. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026 That hasn’t changed; people are still terrified of me in one way or another. — Tiana Denicola, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026 Nora was feeling less terrified of her former partner and increasingly hopeful that his abuse was in the past. — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026 The Tiguerones made international headlines in early 2024 when masked gang members stormed a TV studio during a live broadcast, firing shots and forcing terrified crew to the ground. — CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026 Instead, coaches have become more and more terrified through the years of seeing their players getting hurt during largely meaningless games in August. — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Tempe police ultimately convinced the couple, who were initially too terrified to report the incident, to share what had happened to them, documents said. — Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

By this point, the audience knows the monster a little too well to be properly terrified of her. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026 Letter writer was terrified by friend’s constant phone use in the car — but only got mocked for speaking up. — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026 For years, Democratic candidates were terrified of being accused of wanting to raise taxes. — Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026 Marris was terrified for her daughter and furious with herself. — CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 And where they, too, are terrified by the whims of those above them. — Mark Lilla, The New York Review of Books, 29 Sep. 2026 The one common thread the Dolphins have had as a franchise in the post-Dan Marino era is the fact everyone associated with this organization has been terrified of quarterbacks competing. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026 Though the real Lizzie Borden’s periods weren’t out of the ordinary, periods in general terrified the men of the day, who believed that menstruation could cause women to commit crimes. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026 Elizabeth Pizzo was terrified earlier this year of what would happen to her son. — Jim Defede, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrified

Adjective

The capital’s numerous skyscrapers amplified the sensation of movement, sending frightened residents into streets and open spaces.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, some of the frightened and wary passengers wondered about them and whether they could be trusted.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of frightened

Adjective

Gomez, 67, recalled, watching as responding officers pulled a horrified boy from the car.

— Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026
Greg O'Neill, 63, was swimming at Sorrento Beach in the northern suburbs of Perth in Western Australia on Friday when the attack happened in front of horrified beachgoers.

— Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of horrified

Adjective

Sacramento City Unified School District’s multiyear projections to address its fiscal crisis relied on revenue assumptions that alarmed fiscal overseers.

— Chaewon Chung Updated October 8, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Annual interest expenses will be well over $6 billion, a level that has alarmed deal critics.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of alarmed

Adjective

Katz said the rapid and steep rate movements give investors a chance to buy from the fearful and sell to the greedy.

— Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
During the occupation, families in Izium frequently lived without electricity, gas, heat, and water, and most kept their kids off the street, fearful of the Russian military presence.

— Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of fearful

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

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Synonyms of terrified

adjective

verb

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