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
Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
Security analyst Nnamdi Obasi, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group think tank, explained that while extremist groups have wreaked havoc against both Christians and Muslims in the northeast of Nigeria, bandit groups have terrorized predominantly Muslim communities in the northwest.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 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
The group emerged from the janjaweed militia that terrorized Darfur in the early 2000s and was accused of genocide.
—NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
Annabelle first hit the big screen in The Conjuring (2013), which follows paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who are tasked to aid the Perron family who have been terrorized by the Annabelle doll.
—Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
For two decades, an unidentified serial killer terrorized young couples throughout small towns in Florence, Italy.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Many local critics say instead innocent people are being left terrorized.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
From at least 1985 to 2005, the Latin Kings terrorized Milwaukee's south side through shootings, beatings, kidnappings, arson, drug dealing and other crimes, according to court documents.
—Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Gossip Girl centered around a group of wealthy high school students who are being terrorized by a mysterious and vicious blogger (who was voiced by Kristen Bell) who mercilessly spills all of their secrets.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
Security analyst Nnamdi Obasi, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group think tank, explained that while extremist groups have wreaked havoc against both Christians and Muslims in the northeast of Nigeria, bandit groups have terrorized predominantly Muslim communities in the northwest.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 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
The group emerged from the janjaweed militia that terrorized Darfur in the early 2000s and was accused of genocide.
—NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
Annabelle first hit the big screen in The Conjuring (2013), which follows paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who are tasked to aid the Perron family who have been terrorized by the Annabelle doll.
—Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
For two decades, an unidentified serial killer terrorized young couples throughout small towns in Florence, Italy.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Many local critics say instead innocent people are being left terrorized.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
From at least 1985 to 2005, the Latin Kings terrorized Milwaukee's south side through shootings, beatings, kidnappings, arson, drug dealing and other crimes, according to court documents.
—Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorized
Adjective
-
Nearly a week later, Scott and Kodi Allred, a couple traveling to visit their son at the University of Northern Colorado, saw the frightened black dachshund darting along the same stretch of road near Elk Mountain.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Sometimes, a frightened reaction is inexplicable.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
We weren’t used to being scared by the internet yet.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Few books have scared me as much.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Dramatic body cam video shows a terrified boy was being held by the throat when his knife-wielding captor was killed by a deputy, the Florida investigators say.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The disaster forced terrified guests and hotel staff to leap from windows or dangle bedsheets to escape rooms engulfed in smoke and flames.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The boy looked up mid-sob, startled.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Across America, Halloween spending is expected to reach record levels this year, including large crowds waiting for their chance to be chased, startled and screamed at.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Tessa Kluetz Pernell designs interiors that aren’t afraid to make a bold statement.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The Rings of Power, but those are based on proven IP, at a moment when the industry seems afraid to spend big on anything but brand names.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
To be honest with you, everyone on the cast is pretty horrified by her behavior.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
7 Nov. 2025
-
When the woman ran out of the apartment screaming for help, Burnside turned to his horrified step-daughter, who witnessed the attack on her mom, and began to repeatedly stab her about the body, face and head.—
Thomas Tracy,
Mercury News,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The shocked passengers on the boat were also unharmed.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Ryan’s stepfather sat quietly, appearing shocked and betrayed.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Experts are especially alarmed that the CDC is investigating splitting up the MMR vaccine, which protects kids against measles, mumps and rubella in one shot.—
NPR,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Phil, Myrtle’s son, who lived out of state, became alarmed when a concerned neighbor later notified him that his mother had vanished.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terrorized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorized. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share