as in frightened
filled with fear or dread
the terrorized victims didn't know where to run during the bombing raid
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scared
to strike with fear
thunderstorms terrorize our cats, who all scamper downstairs when lightning flashes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of terrorized
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Families are terrorized for being connected to those who dare to make art.
—Maryam Lieberman, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
According to Fanone, he’s also been terrorized by Raiklin.
—Brian Niemietz, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Carlos Reales Dominguez will face a second trial in May for the serial Davis stabbings that left two dead, another seriously hurt and a city terrorized in 2023.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Before she was known as Lady Van Tassel and terrorized the town in New York with her ghostly avenger, Mary went by the name Sarah Archer, a young girl trying to survive her witch of a mother.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026
This is for the people in the United States who are terrorized and scared today.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 12 Jan. 2026
Long-term Minneapolis residents that have contributed so greatly to our city, to our culture, to our economy, are being terrorized, and now somebody is dead.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2026
Their blue line is huge and imposing with Radim Mrtka (BUF), Max Psenicka (UTA) and particularly Jiricek, who terrorized opponents all tournament, while the smaller Galvas competed well while making a ton of plays.
—Corey Pronman, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
Thousands of children have been terrorized, detained, and many have been deported because of ICE’s unchecked barbarity.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Families are terrorized for being connected to those who dare to make art.
—Maryam Lieberman, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
According to Fanone, he’s also been terrorized by Raiklin.
—Brian Niemietz, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Carlos Reales Dominguez will face a second trial in May for the serial Davis stabbings that left two dead, another seriously hurt and a city terrorized in 2023.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Before she was known as Lady Van Tassel and terrorized the town in New York with her ghostly avenger, Mary went by the name Sarah Archer, a young girl trying to survive her witch of a mother.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026
This is for the people in the United States who are terrorized and scared today.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 12 Jan. 2026
Long-term Minneapolis residents that have contributed so greatly to our city, to our culture, to our economy, are being terrorized, and now somebody is dead.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2026
Their blue line is huge and imposing with Radim Mrtka (BUF), Max Psenicka (UTA) and particularly Jiricek, who terrorized opponents all tournament, while the smaller Galvas competed well while making a ton of plays.
—Corey Pronman, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorized
Adjective
-
His employees are too frightened to come to work.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Because of a decision made decades before by frightened parents, these babies may grow up to suffer the misery of cancer — and, always, the risk of passing the curse of illness to future generations.—
Emilie G.C. Thompson,
STAT,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Last summer, Noemi Rios of Dallas started the grassroots organization Vecinos Unidos to advise immigrants of their rights and to identify people who may be confused by or scared of the system.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Jan. 2026
-
What really scared me was telling my audience.—
SELF Staff,
SELF,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Barry’s little sister, who answered the call, was terrified.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
But there’s plenty of agonized screaming, as well as lots of closeups of terrified faces.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The exchange startled Loftus, who this month shared the correspondence with the Orlando Sentinel.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
-
YouTube’s growth as a competitor to traditional television has startled the industry in recent years.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Hundreds of volunteers have packed and delivered grocery boxes to families too afraid to leave their homes.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
People are so afraid to go out and participate in public life regardless of their citizenship status.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But some Germans are not thrilled by this American adoption of lüften, posting their own horrified reaction videos to TikTok.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
In witness footage shared by the police, the paraglider is seen falling from the sky with a faulty parachute and spiraling quickly towards the waters below, before smashing into the ocean in front of horrified beachgoers.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Bill Belichick was not voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, a league source confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday, and folks around the NFL are shocked.—
Amos Morale III,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
According to Rob Shuter, the whole family is shocked.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Regina seemed alarmed by the suggestion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The Santa Venetia neighbors may not be too alarmed at this point, but the county says the levees are a problem now.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrorized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorized. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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