as in frightens
to strike with fear
thunderstorms terrorize our cats, who all scamper downstairs when lightning flashes
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Recent Examples of terrorizes
The culminating episode, as the mob smashes and ransacks a hospital and terrorizes its patients, ultimately reveals a frail elderly man, standing naked and alone in an empty bathtub as the assailants approach.
—
John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
This appears to be the same spirit that terrorizes young Ben Hanscom (Jeremy Ray Taylor) inside the Derry Public Library.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
After gun violence terrorizes another American school community, a suspect now in custody – the gunman who opened fire on the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island Saturday killing two students in a classroom and leaving nine others wounded.
—NBC news, 14 Dec. 2025
The story behind Pulgasari is more monstrous than the actual creature, a giant metal-eating monster that terrorizes feudal Korea and represents the evils of capitalism, sort of.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Anthony Fauci no longer terrorizes a free people – thanks be to God.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Nov. 2025
The sibling filmmaking duo spent most of the 2010s making a colossal two-part movie adaptation of King’s 1,138-page horror opus about a shapeshifting clown who terrorizes the small town of Derry, Maine.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
In the movie, Affleck plays Shannon, a cruel store manager who terrorizes the people who shop at the mall.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Having him in the lineup ahead of Schwarber could create a duo that terrorizes opposing teams for years to come.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
This appears to be the same spirit that terrorizes young Ben Hanscom (Jeremy Ray Taylor) inside the Derry Public Library.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
After gun violence terrorizes another American school community, a suspect now in custody – the gunman who opened fire on the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island Saturday killing two students in a classroom and leaving nine others wounded.
—NBC news, 14 Dec. 2025
The story behind Pulgasari is more monstrous than the actual creature, a giant metal-eating monster that terrorizes feudal Korea and represents the evils of capitalism, sort of.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Anthony Fauci no longer terrorizes a free people – thanks be to God.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Nov. 2025
The sibling filmmaking duo spent most of the 2010s making a colossal two-part movie adaptation of King’s 1,138-page horror opus about a shapeshifting clown who terrorizes the small town of Derry, Maine.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
In the movie, Affleck plays Shannon, a cruel store manager who terrorizes the people who shop at the mall.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Having him in the lineup ahead of Schwarber could create a duo that terrorizes opposing teams for years to come.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorizes
Verb
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Baker says what frightens her most is whether younger generations will ever be able to step off that wheel — to build generational wealth through homeownership.—
Elizabeth Prann,
The Hill,
10 Nov. 2025
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Within my book, one of the things that frightens me most is the fact that with censorship, there’s often not a clear red line, right?—
Fiction Non Fiction
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That’s something that scares me a little bit about not just theater, but people giving any opinions about any business.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
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From speculating that what scares people the most is anything natural (which can’t be emulated) to advising never listen to a designer, especially a man designer, Jacobs is direct.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While early allergen introduction is not without complexities, the measurable reduction in peanut allergies—once the most common pediatric food allergy and one that terrifies allergy parents—signals a milestone in preventive care.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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Jesus may haunt Wendell, but Wendell terrifies Lee.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As the dolphin gets closer to the glass, the Chihuahua lets out a bark that startles the dolphin, who then starts mimicking the dog's mouth movements in a sort of chasing game across species.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terrorizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorizes. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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