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
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Recent Examples of terrorized
Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 10 May 2026
This would have come as news to the Highland Scots who invaded England in 1745 or the Irish Whiteboys who terrorized landlords and tax collectors a few decades later.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 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, 30 Apr. 2026
Several people are injured after a tornado in Mineral Wells, Texas, flattened a portion of the town Tuesday night, the sixth day of a severe storm outbreak that has terrorized the Midwest and South.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
The film called it Elias-Clark, the fictional publishing empire where Miranda terrorized assistants and designers with equal conviction.
—Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
Co-written by its star Jack Holden and Ed Stambollouian, who directs, the play dramatizes the real-life violence of Ken McElroy, a man who terrorized a small town for years in rural Missouri.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
Admitted Gilgo Beach, New York, serial killer Rex Heuermann confessed to the murders of eight women last week, bringing resolution to a 17-year killing spree that terrorized Long Island.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
His character is described as a serial killer who terrorized the City years ago.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
Nearly 30 minutes later, Dudinha, who had terrorized Angel City throughout the night, sent in a cross from the left flank that Van Zanten was able to get to, ahead of Angel City defender Evelyn Shores, knocking it past goalkeeper Angelina Anderson.
—Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 10 May 2026
This would have come as news to the Highland Scots who invaded England in 1745 or the Irish Whiteboys who terrorized landlords and tax collectors a few decades later.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 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, 30 Apr. 2026
Several people are injured after a tornado in Mineral Wells, Texas, flattened a portion of the town Tuesday night, the sixth day of a severe storm outbreak that has terrorized the Midwest and South.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
The film called it Elias-Clark, the fictional publishing empire where Miranda terrorized assistants and designers with equal conviction.
—Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
Co-written by its star Jack Holden and Ed Stambollouian, who directs, the play dramatizes the real-life violence of Ken McElroy, a man who terrorized a small town for years in rural Missouri.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
Admitted Gilgo Beach, New York, serial killer Rex Heuermann confessed to the murders of eight women last week, bringing resolution to a 17-year killing spree that terrorized Long Island.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
His character is described as a serial killer who terrorized the City years ago.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorized
Adjective
-
The woman who found Nado said the feline appeared frightened but was in overall good health, according to the news outlet.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
-
Those children hadn’t seemed frightened to me, not visibly anyway.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Police are investigating two recent home burglaries in Los Angeles in which the thieves were confronted by witnesses or scared off by home alarms.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
In 2020, a bout with Covid-19 landed him in the hospital and scared him enough to make some changes.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
The four lead the group of terrified and tiny boys, some who look as young or four- or five-years-old.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
-
Aliens, dystopian nightmares, and twisted realities are more than likely provoking a reaction from viewers that flies a lot closer to terrified.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Victor turned to her, startled.—
‘Pemi Aguda,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
-
The gunfire startled sleeping guests at the Citizen Hotel, which included a wedding party and fans of the rapper Tyler the Creator, who performed at a concert hours earlier.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
At the same time, a boy named Henry, who also had to evacuate, is afraid of dogs.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
Native to the Mediterranean, lavender is not afraid of the summer heat.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
To her horrified astonishment, Miss Manners has received a number of letters reporting that guests are taking gross advantage of hospitality by cadging future meals.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
12 May 2026
-
Let’s not confuse slightly horrified admiration for Irina’s determination with admiration for her as a person.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And yet so many fans and media are some cocktail of shocked and outraged over tickets to a World Cup being high, or the travel cost to get here being a lot, or local hotels and public transportation jacking their prices.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2026
-
Bush Hager noted, as Bertinelli looked shocked.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Erin McClymont’s laboratory has six kitchen freezers, each alarmed.—
Hannah Richter,
Scientific American,
7 May 2026
-
Artificial intelligence, far-right ideologies, voracious capitalism — all of it makes Martel alarmed, seeing it as pushing us collectively to the brink of collapse.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrorized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorized. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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