as in to frighten
to strike with fear
the prospect of speaking in front of a huge crowd of people absolutely terrifies me
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Recent Examples of terrify
While the evacuation ended safely, the video quickly sparked reactions online from viewers who said they would have been terrified about climbing down from that height.
—
Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Wild-eyed in a register that ranges from dreamy to terrified to stunned into submission, her performance is the most honestly felt thing here.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 18 May 2026
Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is breathtaking and also terrifying with a 4-year-old along.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 17 May 2026
Modern franchise filmmaking too often feels terrified of critique, with a level of visual polish that leaves otherwise compelling narratives oddly devoid of life.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrify
Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Wild-eyed in a register that ranges from dreamy to terrified to stunned into submission, her performance is the most honestly felt thing here.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 18 May 2026
Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is breathtaking and also terrifying with a 4-year-old along.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 17 May 2026
Modern franchise filmmaking too often feels terrified of critique, with a level of visual polish that leaves otherwise compelling narratives oddly devoid of life.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrify
Verb
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But the future Hall of Famer is coming off ACL surgery, might lack mobility, and has a receiving corps that frightens nobody.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
15 May 2026
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This war has been a disaster for them, frightening away foreign investors, tourists and talent and burdening them with a future of huge new defense bills to deter Iran after the United States is gone.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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That same year, Wait Until Dark scared me to death when bad guys terrorized a blind Audrey Hepburn.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
22 May 2026
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Jittery housemaid Miss Lamb (Thomasin McKenzie) proves less trouble to manage, as Fred scares the wits out of her with bogus talk of a ghoul wandering the Moors.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Verb
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These insects and arachnids might startle you or send shivers down your spine, but there's no need to worry about these bugs—not too much, anyway.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
21 May 2026
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On one occasion, a suckerfish was captured disappearing into a manta ray's backside after a diver swimming nearby appeared to startle it.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrify. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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