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
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Recent Examples of terrifying
Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Parker had only two terrifying options: put her beloved dog to sleep to take away his pain, or undergo X-rays and scans to check the internal damage and whether there was anything that could be done for him.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
But the brain injury, Carr said, was the most terrifying.
—Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2025
There’s no need for megalodons or super-intelligent sharks when the garden variety can be this terrifying.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrifying
Adjective
Although Gi-hun wants to save as many people as possible, he’s forced to continue playing the remaining games, including a terrifying round of double Dutch involving the creepy giant dolls.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Parker had only two terrifying options: put her beloved dog to sleep to take away his pain, or undergo X-rays and scans to check the internal damage and whether there was anything that could be done for him.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
But the brain injury, Carr said, was the most terrifying.
—Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2025
There’s no need for megalodons or super-intelligent sharks when the garden variety can be this terrifying.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrifying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrifying
Adjective
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The fumes are certainly easier to ignore or deny than the visceral, immediate violence of serial murder—which is much rarer, and yet, for many, much more frightening.—
Sarah Weinman,
The Atlantic,
18 June 2025
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Which isn’t to say that the film isn’t frightening.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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This was in the days when only lunatics or scary white punks had shaved heads.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
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The 24-year-old is only going to get better, and that's a scary thing for the league.—
Ricardo Klein,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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But Martone is one of the very best prospects in this draft and gives the Flyers size, high-end skill (he’s got plus traits as a shooter, handler and playmaker), and a formidable one-two punch at right wing with Matvei Michkov.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
27 June 2025
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The actress portrayed formidable sensei Kim Da-Eun on the Netflix series that ended in February after six seasons.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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To be able to say that so many writers have been meaningful to you is not a horrible thing.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2025
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If Flagg develops into the human triple double who leads the team to the Western Conference Finals and NBA Finals in his first six years, the trade can be called not a horrible deal.—
Mac Engel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Rarely great, and consistently cringey in that NHL way we’re used to by now, but rarely terrible.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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Even the ones that aren’t strictly evil in the biblical sense are often prone to doing terrible things.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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The foundations themselves are also focused on education to make clinical trials less intimidating.—
Alexis Kayser,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 June 2025
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Catcher Caden Bodine, a top-round prospect, leads Coastal Carolina’s balanced and intimidating lineup.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terrifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrifying. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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