terrorized 1 of 2

terrorized

2 of 2

verb

past tense of terrorize

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
Morrison helped lead the racist white supremacy campaign of 1898 that terrorized Black citizens and led to policies of segregation, The Observer previously reported. Chase Jordan july 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026 The 1990s were a period of instability across the country, including in Goma, which saw periods of widespread looting that started with mutinous security forces and during which soldiers terrorized the population. Chinatsu Tsuji, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 July 2026 The river once terrorized Angelenos; its unconstrained flow was prone to flooding until most of its 51 miles were lined with concrete starting in the 1940s. Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026 South Korean director Na Hong-jin wowed audiences in Cannes with hi-octane sci-fi thriller Hope in which a remote community, situated on the edge of Korean Demilitarized Zone, is terrorized by the arrival of aliens. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 July 2026 Ike terrorized local teams as a Gonzaga standout, and started all three games for the Warriors at the California Classic while looking strong around the rim. Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 7 July 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 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 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
Adjective
  • Perreault-Magny said frightened and flustered migrants sometimes try to climb into his unmarked patrol pickup, mistaking it for a smuggler coming to collect them.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, the people standing beside the robot look frightened.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • But coyotes—anxious, clumsy, and scared to try new things—lagged far behind their mesopredator cousins.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
  • Running into the real Santosh again amid that backdrop, Juyal asked him if the danger scared him.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 July 2026
Adjective
  • The child runs back inside the bodega seeking safety before collapsing near the front counter as terrified customers scramble for cover.
    Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
  • Appropriately terrified, Russ jumps backward, shattering the window.
    Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
Verb
  • Witness Hoon Chan Sim, 53, was sitting on a park lawn with his dog near West Drive when he was startled by the squeal of braking tires, and spun around to see the horrific collision.
    Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026
  • Wildlife experts say black bears are strong climbers and may scale trees, utility poles or other tall structures when startled by people, traffic or dogs.
    Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026
Adjective
  • The kind who drive across town for the right crust and aren't afraid to wait for it.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
  • Don’t be afraid to volunteer for a responsibility that scares you a little.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Adjective
  • In one early scene, a horrified Pam stares into her bathroom mirror, covered head to toe in blood.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026
  • 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
Adjective
  • The first season ended with a big cliffhanger, in which Cooper emerged from a cocoon after a transformation to a shocked reaction though his appearance was not revealed.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 July 2026
  • In Atlanta last week, Mohamed Salah and his Egypt team-mates walked out of the stadium in shocked silence.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Adjective
  • Toczylowski said termination of a program that serves one of the most vulnerable immigrant populations should be viewed as an attack on children and Americans should be alarmed.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
  • Multiple layers of protection — starting with four-sided isolation fencing, alarmed doors and windows leading to pool areas, and removing toys after swim time — can help prevent these tragedies.
    Karen Cohn, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Terrorized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorized. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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