as in to frighten
to strike with fear
thunderstorms terrorize our cats, who all scamper downstairs when lightning flashes
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Recent Examples of terrorize
From at least 1985 to 2005, the Latin Kings terrorized Milwaukee's south side through shootings, beatings, kidnappings, arson, drug dealing and other crimes, according to court documents.
—
Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Then there’s a trip back to Derry (because people haven’t learned to just go live anywhere else in Maine) so Pennywise can terrorize a whole new crop of kids, and another chapter of Anne Rice’s television universe premieres on AMC+.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
You're not allowed to mentally terrorize someone.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
Stack’s Lilly particularly stands out as a young girl still terrorized by the traumatic loss of her father, but desperate to save her friends from experiencing similar kinds of anguish.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrorize
Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Then there’s a trip back to Derry (because people haven’t learned to just go live anywhere else in Maine) so Pennywise can terrorize a whole new crop of kids, and another chapter of Anne Rice’s television universe premieres on AMC+.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
You're not allowed to mentally terrorize someone.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
Stack’s Lilly particularly stands out as a young girl still terrorized by the traumatic loss of her father, but desperate to save her friends from experiencing similar kinds of anguish.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrorize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorize
Verb
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When the Maitlands' attempts to frighten the Deetzes away fail miserably, Barbara and Adam turn to the mysterious and mischievous Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) to rid them of the living.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
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Around 100 pairs were found abandoned on the roof, perhaps due to the thieves being frightened away, Sheriff John Budensiek said at the news conference.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That’s something that scares me a little bit about not just theater, but people giving any opinions about any business.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
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Allow your emotions, even the ones that scare you, to come and go without judgment.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Here's why some people are terrified of clusters of holesNeed a news break?—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
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From slasher homages like Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue to esoteric but no less worthy films like Belladonna of Sadness, these works possess a power to shock and terrify.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Across America, Halloween spending is expected to reach record levels this year, including large crowds waiting for their chance to be chased, startled and screamed at.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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White disappears completely into the role without skirting parody, portraying the exhausted hitmaker as startled by his own numbness, blanked out and unsure of what to do next.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terrorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorize. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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