terrifying 1 of 2

adjective

ˈter-ə-ˌfī-iŋ How to pronounce terrifying (audio)
Definition of terrifyingnext
as in frightening
causing fear heard a terrifying noise coming from the next room

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

terrifying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of terrify
as in scaring
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

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 terrifying
Adjective
Relatives told News Center Maine, an NBC News affiliate, that Brouillette has a history of terrifying and violent behavior. — Julia Ainsley, NBC news, 17 July 2026 Nayor came to learn that Perkins was not alone as a kind man directing terrifying movies; one of her most frequent collaborators, Sam Raimi, proved to be similarly warm and supportive. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 16 July 2026
Verb
The air in the room changed immediately, terrifying little Liza. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2026 Pic was written and directed by horror filmmaker Ian Tuason, and follows the host (Nina Kiri) of a popular paranormal podcast who becomes haunted by terrifying recordings mysteriously sent her way. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for terrifying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrifying
  1. frightening
  2. scaring
  3. scary
  4. startling
  5. formidable
  6. horrible
  7. terrible
  8. intimidating
Adjective
  • However, changing the Social Security formula to a means-testing base, and applying it immediately to all existing Social Security recipients, is a frightening idea.
    — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 July 2026
  • Panettiere's pregnancy was marked by a series of frightening health scares.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of frightening
Verb
  • For the past 18 months, soaring brisket and rib prices have forced Pig-Sty BBQ in Boynton Beach to walk a pricing tightrope, covering expenses without scaring away customers.
    — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2026
  • In an article for Marie Claire, Rapinoe trotted out several common left-wing talking points aimed at scaring rational-thinking people into believing that keeping males out of women's sports is somehow bad for girls and women.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of scaring
Adjective
  • Penned by Aguirre-Sacasa based on the Archie Comics characters, Afterlife with Archie turns the all-American town of Riverdale into a zombie-overrun apocalypse — where the only thing scarier than the undead is trying to survive your teenage years.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 July 2026
  • Scary allegations are not the whole story If voters listened to Trump’s speech without the benefits of fact-checkers or even Google, things sound really, really scary.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 17 July 2026
Definition of scary
Verb
  • Cortlandt Koerwitz/Instagram A family's Fourth of July outing took a frightening turn when a bear charged at a father outside his Lake Tahoe vacation home after startling his daughters.
    — Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 9 July 2026
  • Some cyclists sped by pretty quickly, startling us and our dog.
    — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of startling
Adjective
  • In the $200,000 San Clemente Handicap 35-1 longshot Somerset West (Armando Ayuso) outran nine other 3-year-old fillies, including three formidable challengers who shipped in from the east.
    — Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
  • Ohtani spearheads the game’s most formidable hypothetical October rotation.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of formidable
Adjective
  • My husband holds the pamphlet close to his face in bed the next morning, my light creating a horrible glare on the glossy paper.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
  • The family wants to have accountability for this horrible crime.
    — Eric Shawn, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • Why do some people stay in terrible, horrible, no good, very bad jobs?
    — Joseph Kim, NPR, 22 July 2026
  • Three years ago, Victor Wembanyama was terrible, and Houston’s Cam Whitmore won Summer MVP.
    — John Hollinger, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • Epic Inky Stix in Robotic Red make experimenting with red eyeliner feel a whole lot less intimidating.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 20 July 2026
  • But success has not made his career’s work any less intimidating.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 20 July 2026
Definition of intimidating

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Cite this Entry

“Terrifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrifying. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of terrifying for Spanish Speakers

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