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
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
Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
And some of the silence is designed to amplify the missing, the previously ignored, the co-opted, the terrorized, the gaslighted, and excluded voices of the country’s most ardent supporters of a multiracial democracy.
—Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026
For a survivor who has been repeatedly and continuously terrorized, the perception of being in mortal danger does not come into focus in a single, dramatic moment.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
In war, the V-2 terrorized Britain and its allies.
—Michael Carrafiello, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe will all be returning to be further terrorized by hearing-sensitive aliens.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Jack O’Connell, Lola Kirke and Peter Dreimanis — the actors who terrorized the juke joint as bloodthirsty vampires in the movie — also snaked their way onto the stage.
—Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
The Iranian regime has terrorized the region.
—NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
In it, the 62-year-old reveals how her mother came face-to-face with a serial predator who terrorized California and lived to tell the tale.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Emmy winner has joined the Season 2 cast in the series regular role of The New York Ripper, a serial killer who terrorized the City years ago.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
And some of the silence is designed to amplify the missing, the previously ignored, the co-opted, the terrorized, the gaslighted, and excluded voices of the country’s most ardent supporters of a multiracial democracy.
—Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026
For a survivor who has been repeatedly and continuously terrorized, the perception of being in mortal danger does not come into focus in a single, dramatic moment.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
In war, the V-2 terrorized Britain and its allies.
—Michael Carrafiello, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe will all be returning to be further terrorized by hearing-sensitive aliens.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Jack O’Connell, Lola Kirke and Peter Dreimanis — the actors who terrorized the juke joint as bloodthirsty vampires in the movie — also snaked their way onto the stage.
—Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
The Iranian regime has terrorized the region.
—NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
In it, the 62-year-old reveals how her mother came face-to-face with a serial predator who terrorized California and lived to tell the tale.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorized
Adjective
-
Chesney became frightened, scaled the enclosure wall and hopped over the fence.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The team caught up with Chesney on Wednesday and again Thursday night, but Johnson said the frightened kangaroo slipped away — once by jumping into a cold river — and Johnson lost track on the drone.—
John O'Connor,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Scared of monsters under the bed, scared to go to school, scared of everything — that was sweet, gentle Juliet.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Bossche says the encounter with the rattler hasn't scared her off the trails for good.—
Jasmine Viel,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This publicity brought a flood of calls from hundreds of terrified men around the country—many living in states where being gay was a crime that could land you in a psychiatric hospital or jail.—
Donna Lamb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Recently, Kristen chased a terrified family with young children up a nearby stairway.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kevin Uribe, another employee, said the sound of the collapse initially startled him.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Littrell walked up to the man, who appeared to be startled by the singer's presence.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Don’t be afraid to wear your heart on your sleeve.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Is the economy struggling, with layoffs and wary investors afraid to lend?—
Alex Mayyasi,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This little bird was a horrified little lump that just kept falling over his feet.—
Emma Forgione,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The horrified fisherman ran out to the street to hail the Mascotte police chief, who was directing traffic in front of a nearby elementary school.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Millen got shell-shocked, got phased out and eventually transferred out.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
-
On Sunday, Lindsay Hubbard posted a selfie with Miller to her Instagram Stories, and a second still of herself from Summer House with a shocked reaction.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Last week, Narges was finally allowed a brief visit with her sister and two lawyers, who were alarmed at how rapidly her health had deteriorated.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
People gather under the trees during the season of hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, and the collapse of trees has alarmed officials in Tokyo, the birthplace of the cherry blossom variety.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrorized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorized. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
