terrorized 1 of 2

adjective

as in frightened
filled with fear or dread the terrorized victims didn't know where to run during the bombing raid

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

terrorized

2 of 2

verb

past tense of terrorize
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

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 terrorized
Verb
The scene recalled the gruesome rampages of the RSF’s forebears, the janjaweed militias who terrorized Sudan’s Darfur region a generation ago. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026 In the film, actress Midori Francis plays Hana, a medical student who becomes terrorized by a sinister force after partaking in the latest dieting fad — eating human ashes. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2026 Gangbangers as young as 14 terrorized a Bronx neighborhood for months with shootouts targeting rivals from a local housing project while often wounding innocent bystanders, law enforcement officials said Monday. — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 30 June 2026 Federal prosecutors say the violent Kiccdoe street gang that terrorized Arlington has effectively been dismantled, with 21 members and associates now convicted and one of its most notorious gunmen sentenced to life in prison. — Doug Myers, CBS News, 6 June 2026 Their support for terrorist proxies has to end, that has terrorized the entire Middle East, from the Houthis to Hezbollah to Hamas, to the militias in Iraq that have killed American soldiers, my friends and colleagues and the veterans for many decades. — ABC News, 14 June 2026 As the story goes, in the 17th century the dragon nightly terrorized Palma, devouring residents until sword-wielding knight Bartomeu Coch slew it, named it and gifted the dead monster to his fiancée, Na Coca Rossello. — Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 27 May 2026 This horror reimagining stars Jack Reynor as journalist Charlie Cannon and Laia Costa as his wife, Larissa, whose family is terrorized after their long-missing daughter, Katie (played by Natalie Grace), returns home possessed by an ancient demon. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 Alberto Fujimori, who governed Peru from 1990 to 2000, is credited by supporters with rescuing the country from economic collapse, taming hyperinflation and defeating the brutal Maoist Shining Path insurgency, which had terrorized Peru for years. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorized
  1. frightened
  2. scared
  3. terrified
  4. startled
  5. afraid
  6. horrified
  7. shocked
  8. alarmed
Adjective
  • In May, a frightened horse rammed into another carriage, causing the vehicle to flip over, injuring the driver.
    — ANDREA SACHS THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2026
  • Rodríguez acknowledged that many remain too frightened to return home even after inspections declared some buildings safe.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 June 2026
Definition of frightened
Verb
  • There was one American flag sign lit, with some storefront decor gleaming red, white and blue, but the heat seemingly scared most away from celebrating July 4 before Saturday's big day.
    — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • For a family already scared and stressed, that free access made a big difference.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of scared
Adjective
  • Outrage continues to grow after a drone was reported stalking a terrified wild mustang on North Carolina’s northern Outer Banks.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026
  • Campbell found the minister on the ground, terrified and in pain.
    — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
Definition of terrified
Verb
  • Comcast startled the industry and Wall Street with the split news early Monday, which comes just a few months after NBCU’s cable networks were spun off into a new company, Versant Media.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 29 June 2026
  • Hyland said he’s been startled by how close the construction barges come to shore.
    — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026
Definition of startled
Adjective
  • The ruling leaves trans student-athletes and their advocates feeling angry and afraid.
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 1 July 2026
  • Pregnant mothers are afraid of their babies not being able to have a home.
    — Dennis Valera, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of afraid
Adjective
  • The first police officer on the scene quickly ran back to the station for help, while neighbors calmed the horrified Lizzie.
    — Sophia Zhang, Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 June 2026
  • As a horrified Sam inadvertently observes, a creature has been sating itself on his buddy’s brain.
    — Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
Definition of horrified
Adjective
  • No one is more shocked by this turn of events than KC, who takes his place among the safe Islanders with his mouth hanging open.
    — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 6 July 2026
  • In a stunning two-minute span in the first half, Bellingham struck twice, leaving Mexico's defense completely shell-shocked.
    — Alejandro Avila, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of shocked
Adjective
  • Politico reported on Wednesday that even some key Republicans are alarmed at the supplemental, claiming the administration hadn't provided enough information.
    — Dan Mangan,Luke Fountain,Kevin Breuninger,Garrett Downs,Ashley Capoot,Justin Papp, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • The talks unfold amid fresh crossfire over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil chokepoint the closure of which has fueled a global energy crisis and alarmed allies.
    — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of alarmed

Browse Nearby Words

terrorize
terrorized
terrorizes
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Terrorized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorized. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on terrorized

Nglish: Translation of terrorized for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tacit

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All