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
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 May 2026
Aliens, dystopian nightmares, and twisted realities are more than likely provoking a reaction from viewers that flies a lot closer to terrified.
—Grace Dean, Space.com, 2 May 2026
The key cabin crew are flight attendants Penny (Lucy Barrett) and Zoe (Na Shi), both of whom demonstrate bravery, to different ends, and show caring attention to the terrified children.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
Though Ridley Scott works in a drastically different tone than the one John Carpenter brought to Dark Star, the two films share screenwriter Dan O’Bannon’s darkly comedic view of a future that has reduced humans to alternately bored and terrified cogs in larger machines.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
If your social feeds have been overtaken by a seven-foot-tall orange furry creature with unhinged googly eyes chasing terrified hockey fans down a hallway, congratulations — you’ve been introduced to playoff Gritty.
—Ryan Brennan
april 23, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
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
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
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 four lead the group of terrified and tiny boys, some who look as young or four- or five-years-old.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 May 2026
Aliens, dystopian nightmares, and twisted realities are more than likely provoking a reaction from viewers that flies a lot closer to terrified.
—Grace Dean, Space.com, 2 May 2026
The key cabin crew are flight attendants Penny (Lucy Barrett) and Zoe (Na Shi), both of whom demonstrate bravery, to different ends, and show caring attention to the terrified children.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
Though Ridley Scott works in a drastically different tone than the one John Carpenter brought to Dark Star, the two films share screenwriter Dan O’Bannon’s darkly comedic view of a future that has reduced humans to alternately bored and terrified cogs in larger machines.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
If your social feeds have been overtaken by a seven-foot-tall orange furry creature with unhinged googly eyes chasing terrified hockey fans down a hallway, congratulations — you’ve been introduced to playoff Gritty.
—Ryan Brennan
april 23, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
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
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
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
-
The woman who found Nado said the feline appeared frightened but was in overall good health, according to the news outlet.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
-
Those children hadn’t seemed frightened to me, not visibly anyway.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Police are investigating two recent home burglaries in Los Angeles in which the thieves were confronted by witnesses or scared off by home alarms.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
In 2020, a bout with Covid-19 landed him in the hospital and scared him enough to make some changes.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
At the same time, a boy named Henry, who also had to evacuate, is afraid of dogs.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
Native to the Mediterranean, lavender is not afraid of the summer heat.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Victor turned to her, startled.—
‘Pemi Aguda,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
-
The gunfire startled sleeping guests at the Citizen Hotel, which included a wedding party and fans of the rapper Tyler the Creator, who performed at a concert hours earlier.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Let’s not confuse slightly horrified admiration for Irina’s determination with admiration for her as a person.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
24 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
-
And yet so many fans and media are some cocktail of shocked and outraged over tickets to a World Cup being high, or the travel cost to get here being a lot, or local hotels and public transportation jacking their prices.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2026
-
Bush Hager noted, as Bertinelli looked shocked.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Erin McClymont’s laboratory has six kitchen freezers, each alarmed.—
Hannah Richter,
Scientific American,
7 May 2026
-
Artificial intelligence, far-right ideologies, voracious capitalism — all of it makes Martel alarmed, seeing it as pushing us collectively to the brink of collapse.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
As local officers have gotten more involved in anti-immigration efforts, some communities have become increasingly fearful of the police.—
Shoshana Walter,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2026
-
Julia Louis-Dreyfus provides the voice of Miss Maple, renamed Lily and far more fretful and fearful than in the book.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrified. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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