as in to frighten
to strike with fear
thunderstorms terrorize our cats, who all scamper downstairs when lightning flashes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 terrorize
On May 21, 2024, Feyock and Ahmet Korkaya, another defendant in the case, allegedly agreed to kill, torment and terrorize their targets and their families, according to the indictment.
—
James Cirrone,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
When a group went to smoke marijuana in the parking lot of the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, two of the people were kidnapped at gunpoint and terrorized with a blowtorch and pliers, a federal complaint said.
—
Sofia Saric
june 11,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
So maybe a side trip to Joel and Tommy terrorizing the countryside.
—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
This sideways prequel takes it back to the beginning, where these alien creatures terrorize a New York City ill-prepared to fight back.
—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrorize
James Cirrone,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
When a group went to smoke marijuana in the parking lot of the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, two of the people were kidnapped at gunpoint and terrorized with a blowtorch and pliers, a federal complaint said.
—
Sofia Saric
june 11,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
So maybe a side trip to Joel and Tommy terrorizing the countryside.
—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
This sideways prequel takes it back to the beginning, where these alien creatures terrorize a New York City ill-prepared to fight back.
—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrorize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorize
Verb
-
But her outbursts frightened the children too.
-
What frightened me most was what might happen to my children.
Verb
-
Don’t be scared by his blue eyes.
-
The intent of the letters isn’t to scare people, but to educate them about water stewardship, Talbott said.
Verb
-
Supporters — many of them wearing Colombia’s yellow and red colors — rushed the gates at the home stadium of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, leaving fans terrified and bloodied as security struggled to contain the rush.
-
In La Guaira, entire sections of Catia la Mar remained without electricity on Thursday after many residents spent Wednesday night sleeping in streets, cars or near damaged buildings, terrified of further collapses.
Verb
-
The mobile phone alert startled many across the city-state of Dubai, the first such alert since the interim ceasefire.
-
Lansley said she has been startled by how chatbots can appear to display emotional intelligence.
Cite this Entry
“Terrorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorize. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
