as in frightens
to strike with fear
thunderstorms terrorize our cats, who all scamper downstairs when lightning flashes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 terrorizes
Continue reading … SOPHISTICATED SCHEME — South American theft ring allegedly terrorizes 60+ Texas mansions with signal jammers.
—
FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Crucially, this practice terrorizes broader society.
—Omid Memarian, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
As the Grabber terrorizes those on the ice (and tries to choke out Finn), Gwen (in her dream state) dives into the water in search of the missing boys.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
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
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
FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Crucially, this practice terrorizes broader society.
—Omid Memarian, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
As the Grabber terrorizes those on the ice (and tries to choke out Finn), Gwen (in her dream state) dives into the water in search of the missing boys.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorizes
Verb
-
The piercing sunlight frightens her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
At its core, this is a story about belonging and growing up — no matter your age — filled with adventure, wonder, comedy, scares, and tears.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The boiling bin freezing especially scares me.—
Emily Elias,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Aubry Bracco is the kind of player who terrifies a certain (male) demographic of Survivor alumni.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
25 Feb. 2026
-
What terrifies Iran’s theocrats the most, the fear that eclipses all their fears, is the ability of the people at large to clearly see the essential realities of the present regime.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The project, which Steinberger has rebranded multiple times—evolving from Clawdbot to Moltbot and finally to OpenClaw—largely owing to politics—has expanded at a pace that startles even seasoned AI experts.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
19 Feb. 2026
-
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 1 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
