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
Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
This is about a fight against a system that consistently has terrorized Southern California streets and recently, in Minneapolis, resulted in the deaths of two American citizens at the hands of agents of the American government.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
These attacks often provided a larger cultural pretext for the campaigns of extralegal political violence that terrorized Black voters in the South, assassinated political leaders, and marred the integrity of several of the region’s major elections.
—Robert D. Bland, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
King's 1986 horror novel told the story of seven children terrorized by an evil entity called It, which exploits its victims using their own fears.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
In further news of book people showing up for each other, and for the rest of us, a dedicated group of publishing and culture workers has organized an auction to raise funds in support of communities terrorized by ICE and DHS.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Starring Don Cheadle, Ving Rhames, and Jon Voight, Rosewood is based on real events of the Rosewood Massacre that happened in 1923, when a Black community in Rosewood, Florida was terrorized by a racist white mob and burned to the ground.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
The Bain-Mesidor combo terrorized opposing offenses for much of the 2025 season.
—Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
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
Verb
As a state legislator, Lincoln stood against slave catchers backed by the federal government who defiled our state’s laws and terrorized our most vulnerable.
—Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
This is about a fight against a system that consistently has terrorized Southern California streets and recently, in Minneapolis, resulted in the deaths of two American citizens at the hands of agents of the American government.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
These attacks often provided a larger cultural pretext for the campaigns of extralegal political violence that terrorized Black voters in the South, assassinated political leaders, and marred the integrity of several of the region’s major elections.
—Robert D. Bland, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
King's 1986 horror novel told the story of seven children terrorized by an evil entity called It, which exploits its victims using their own fears.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
In further news of book people showing up for each other, and for the rest of us, a dedicated group of publishing and culture workers has organized an auction to raise funds in support of communities terrorized by ICE and DHS.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Starring Don Cheadle, Ving Rhames, and Jon Voight, Rosewood is based on real events of the Rosewood Massacre that happened in 1923, when a Black community in Rosewood, Florida was terrorized by a racist white mob and burned to the ground.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
The Bain-Mesidor combo terrorized opposing offenses for much of the 2025 season.
—Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorized
Adjective
-
While protesters may be frightened and grieving after last month's bloodbath, they're not mollified.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Inside the bathysphere of the novel, readers make contact with a darkness that our frightened minds might otherwise reject.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Everyone sees what’s happening, but everyone’s scared to talk.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
After all, the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre only scared away investors from China for a few years; opportunities to make money in Deng Xiaoping’s market economy soon lured them back.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Rightly disappointed, Warren wasn’t entirely terrified.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
-
There is a 9-year-old girl sitting terrified and tearful and blaming herself for wanting to see Disney.—
Heidi Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
My cat was startled by a loud noise from outside and ran across the apartment with the needle in her mouth.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Twyla Tharp’s ballet Push Comes to Shove, which premiered in 1976, startled and delighted audiences with its coy, self-referential humor, and its flirtation with popular dance styles such as jazz and tango.—
Sara Krolewski,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Don’t be afraid to wear these shoes to the fullest.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Thank you for your attempt at helping in the noble cause of mannerliness, but Miss Manners is afraid that your suggestion represents the problem, not the solution.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The partygoers don’t really know how to react until Stab interrupts the performance to choke Kid out, and then everyone becomes horrified.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
-
You’re just horrified at what those kinds of impacts have.—
Andrew Dampf,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Tuesday morning’s news came without warning to members of the MLBPA, leaving them shocked.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Homan looked shocked and denied the allegation.—
Julia Frankel,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The experiment ended early because the researchers became alarmed by how fast previously ordinary people devolved into violence when shielded from accountability.—
William Robiner,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
-
So don’t be alarmed because this is Mother Nature’s master plan in action.—
Jill Schildhouse,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrorized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorized. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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