as in frightening
causing fear
heard a terrifying noise coming from the next room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
23 June 2026
That’s how much of a blip on the radar what once seemed a terrifying nosedive off democracy’s cliff is today.
—
Greg Jackson,
Time,
23 June 2026
Anthony D'alessandro,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2026
But across the political divide, the bombings are terrifying for many Iranians, with civilian casualities on the rise.
—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrifying
Adjective
Beyond Alouette, the team also showed some animation tests from their other main location, the Screaming Woods, populated by Biker Trolls riding moto goats and terrifying insect-like mechs.
—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
23 June 2026
That’s how much of a blip on the radar what once seemed a terrifying nosedive off democracy’s cliff is today.
—
Greg Jackson,
Time,
23 June 2026
Verb
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
But across the political divide, the bombings are terrifying for many Iranians, with civilian casualities on the rise.
—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrifying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrifying
Adjective
-
The hypocrisy is stunning, and frightening.
-
Yes, the Scots played poorly, but Brazil’s brilliant roster of attacking talent capitalized on mistakes with frightening efficiency.
Verb
-
Suddenly the seller is tiptoeing, managing the buyer's mood, terrified of saying the wrong thing and scaring them off.
-
Two earthquakes jolted Venezuela with one-two punch on Wednesday, damaging buildings and scaring people who felt the violent shaking.
Adjective
-
Authorities say the scary situation happened at the end of a ride on May 10.
-
As a child life specialist, Hartz’s job is to make the hospital experience less scary.
Verb
-
Some cyclists sped by pretty quickly, startling us and our dog.
-
Hauge called that startling, given that court filing fees alone cost just as much.
Adjective
-
The Scottish lawyer was one of the smartest, most formidable specialists in the luxury business, with a reputation that carried internationally and a vast roll call of clients.
-
With five volumes of his Noise Kandy series, to solo and collaborative albums (KISS THE RING, Kontraband, Trainspotting), the Griselda affiliate has cemented his status as one of today’s most formidable spitters.
Adjective
-
The Red Sox offense has been horrible this season, but Contreras has been everything the club could have hoped for.
-
Your cab driver is taking you on a horrible route.
Adjective
-
Thank you to everyone who read or contributed to this column over the years, who reached out to me with story ideas or tips, or complimented my terrible artwork.
-
Visitors will see his Rough Riders uniform; the 1884 diary grieving his terrible loss; and the eyeglasses case, speech and shirt from the 1912 assassination attempt against him.
Adjective
-
The caps, made from real bear skin, are a distinctive part of the military uniform, designed to make troops appear taller and more intimidating.
-
The one witness everyone in the courtroom remembers was Watkins, an intimidating presence with the build of an NFL defensive tackle.
Cite this Entry
“Terrifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrifying. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
