as in frightening
causing fear
heard a terrifying noise coming from the next room
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of terrifying
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 11 May 2025
Featuring terrifying real spiders and set in a Parisian housing project with a fresh young cast including breakout actor Theo Christine, the movie became an instant genre classic and was bought by IFC’s Shudder for multiple territories, including North America.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 8 May 2025
Alisha Weir stars as the whip-smart Matilda Wormwood, who escapes her awful parents (Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough) by disappearing into books and finding a friend in Lashana Lynch’s sweet Miss Honey at her terrifying new school.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 7 May 2025
To cut yourself off from people is to lose your connection and way in a glorious, terrifying world.
—Mary Frances Ruskell, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrifying
Adjective
Hanrahan commends her for bravery and quick thinking, but the real message of the scene — besides the terrifying evolution of the cordyceps infection — is that Sgt.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 11 May 2025
Featuring terrifying real spiders and set in a Parisian housing project with a fresh young cast including breakout actor Theo Christine, the movie became an instant genre classic and was bought by IFC’s Shudder for multiple territories, including North America.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 8 May 2025
Alisha Weir stars as the whip-smart Matilda Wormwood, who escapes her awful parents (Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough) by disappearing into books and finding a friend in Lashana Lynch’s sweet Miss Honey at her terrifying new school.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 7 May 2025
To cut yourself off from people is to lose your connection and way in a glorious, terrifying world.
—Mary Frances Ruskell, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrifying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrifying
Adjective
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These frightening and repulsive actions represent the most significant breach on our Capitol in over two hundred years.—
Sonam Sheth
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
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Mellencamp's frightening diagnosis, though, hasn't stopped her resolve.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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Every celebrity — no matter how small — had at least one stalker or someone obsessed with them, and no fan was creepier or scarier than the ones obsessed with child stars.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
14 May 2025
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Here’s a scary scenario: You’ve been put in charge of air traffic control at Newark airport near New York.—
Steve Nadis,
Quanta Magazine,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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The renowned American sculptor was more accessible at a smaller scale with a formidable presence at TEFAF New York.—
Natasha Gural,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2025
-
Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Cobb brings a formidable and unique resume to WWE, built across multiple major promotions.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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However, her tragic demise spooks and haunts Jen, since her death is incredibly horrible and sad, rocking the whole Capesode community.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
14 May 2025
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Jurors viewed for a fifth time in two days the video footage of the horrible beating that followed.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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Such legislation is meant to destabilize Pakistan’s internal politics, which is in no one’s interests, except those who promoted such a terrible idea in the first place.—
Christopher Shays,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2025
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Transgender kids, especially under the current president, are facing terrible rights losses and bigotry.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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In places where higher education was all but a miraculous dream, the act of reading can be intimidating, exclusionary, not to mention unaffordable for people who spend their days working two to three jobs and twelve-hour shifts.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
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Hussain has a friendly, reassuring presence, making the already-simple recipes even less intimidating.—
Katie Rife,
EW.com,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terrifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrifying. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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