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 terrify The school attack, which terrified students and parents, capped a violent spree that left at least three people dead and more than a dozen others wounded across the city. Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025 Many are terrified of disrupting themselves. S.w. Miliano, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 People were terrified about dealing with the fact that two people were ending their lives. Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025 The opportunity to really get into dancing and challenge myself there and be terrified, that was exciting to me. H. Alan Scott jennifer Cunningham, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for terrify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrify
Verb
  • Judy Hernandez’ husband Raul, a co-founder of the community group the Resurrection Project, dismissed those plans as a political stunt geared to create fear and frighten Spanish-speaking people.
    Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Many of us are conditioned to think that our ultimate goal in life is to be with someone, so much so, that the mere thought of being alone frightens us.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Yet, at the same time, automation scares people.
    Arthur Azizov, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Parents, scared by the specter of brain damage, are reluctant to let their kids play tackle football.
    Seth Wickersham, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Then the Buckel brothers arrived, intent on doing the same, and Smith was startled.
    Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Another Epstein accuser looked up, startled, to see where the deafening sound was coming from.
    Josh Meyer, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Terrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrify. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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