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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of terrorized
Mark Price
january 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 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
His release of Tren de Aragua gang members from VZ prisons terrorized American communities & killed my fellow Texans.
—Briauna Brown, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026
Jenna’s sister Kristil Krug was stalked, terrorized and murdered by Kristil’s husband, who masqueraded as an ex-boyfriend.
—Josh Mankiewicz, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025
Grinch was a name given to him by Whoville, a town that terrorized him.
—Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Dec. 2025
The Zodiac Killer is a mass murderer who terrorized the city of San Francisco from 1968 to 1970.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
Antisemitic attacks surged in the two years since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, when militants terrorized Israelis in cross-border raids, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 251 hostages.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025
Englund sat down with Newsweek to discuss the film collection release, along with the enduring legacy of his time as the horror icon who has terrorized dreams for over 40 years.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
Court documents report the girl was terrorized when 44-year-old Summers wrapped both arms around her and refused to let go.
—Mark Price
january 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 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
His release of Tren de Aragua gang members from VZ prisons terrorized American communities & killed my fellow Texans.
—Briauna Brown, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026
Jenna’s sister Kristil Krug was stalked, terrorized and murdered by Kristil’s husband, who masqueraded as an ex-boyfriend.
—Josh Mankiewicz, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025
Grinch was a name given to him by Whoville, a town that terrorized him.
—Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Dec. 2025
The Zodiac Killer is a mass murderer who terrorized the city of San Francisco from 1968 to 1970.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
Antisemitic attacks surged in the two years since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, when militants terrorized Israelis in cross-border raids, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 251 hostages.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025
Englund sat down with Newsweek to discuss the film collection release, along with the enduring legacy of his time as the horror icon who has terrorized dreams for over 40 years.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorized
Adjective
-
The article quotes two current professors but doesn’t explore why other faculty members critical of the school were too frightened to speak on the record in what Corcoran described as a campus finally open to different opinions.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Freedom from fear mattered because frightened societies are easily manipulated.—
Philip Martin,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
What really scared me was telling my audience.—
SELF Staff,
SELF,
9 Jan. 2026
-
That caption scared me for a minute.—
Stacy Lambe,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Understandably terrified, Scott-Miller closed the store to protect her and her family’s safety and peace of mind.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Jan. 2026
-
When workers are terrified, turnover rises, productivity falls and long-term investment stalls.—
Anabel Mendoza,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Authorities in southern Colorado are investigating after a sudden explosion damaged a building and startled nearby residents.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Leibfried was responding to a report of a domestic disturbance in the building and was startled by a loud bang that emanated from the closed door of an apartment.—
Peter Passi,
Twin Cities,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Others are afraid to leave their homes to do mundane things like getting groceries or shoveling snow and clearing ice from their sidewalks.—
Bao Phi,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The lawsuit by the city and state says the campaign had a chilling effect, making residents afraid to leave home.—
Rebecca Santana,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Yang plays Kieran Culkin’s stand-in, his arms nightmarishly chainsawed off as Ashley Padilla’s Catherine O’Hara equivalent lets out a series of horrified shrieks.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The mom of two could be seen typing and looking animatedly at her screen, appearing shocked.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Fans on social media are mostly excited (and a little shocked) at this latest bakery item.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Store employees became alarmed after Vandenberg repeatedly spoke about throwing fireworks at police and asked whether the store was going to track him, prompting them to record his license plate and contact law enforcement.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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Given the less-than-one-half-inch insect’s track record of devastating oaks since being first detected in San Diego County in 2008, scientists and land stewards are alarmed — and working to contain the outbreak.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrorized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorized. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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