as in scaring
to strike with fear
thunderstorms terrorize our cats, who all scamper downstairs when lightning flashes
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Recent Examples of terrorizing
He is seen walking down the middle of the street, terrorizing drivers and waving and shooting a long gun.
—
Cheryl Fiandaca, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Trump is terrorizing our immigrant communities.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
The animal begins wrecking the fields and terrorizing the people.
—Perin Gürel, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
But when a sadistic local (Taron Egerton) begins terrorizing her, a frantic chase ensues.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
State wildlife officials have finally come up with a theory to explain how a giant, highly destructive rodent that’s been terrorizing California might have come from Oregon.
—Samantha Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
One rabid mongoose bite later, and Ben is a skull-crushing, face-ripping menace terrorizing Lucy and her friends.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
While there have been multiple iterations of the KKK, in the 1960s, Klans throughout the country were responding to the Civil Rights Movement and desegregation by terrorizing Black activists and their allies.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 30 Mar. 2026
Also his signature immigration policy, these mass deportations, has become broadly unpopular, especially after the two killings in Minneapolis and these scenes of federal agents seemingly terrorizing people.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Cheryl Fiandaca, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Trump is terrorizing our immigrant communities.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
The animal begins wrecking the fields and terrorizing the people.
—Perin Gürel, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
But when a sadistic local (Taron Egerton) begins terrorizing her, a frantic chase ensues.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
State wildlife officials have finally come up with a theory to explain how a giant, highly destructive rodent that’s been terrorizing California might have come from Oregon.
—Samantha Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
One rabid mongoose bite later, and Ben is a skull-crushing, face-ripping menace terrorizing Lucy and her friends.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
While there have been multiple iterations of the KKK, in the 1960s, Klans throughout the country were responding to the Civil Rights Movement and desegregation by terrorizing Black activists and their allies.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 30 Mar. 2026
Also his signature immigration policy, these mass deportations, has become broadly unpopular, especially after the two killings in Minneapolis and these scenes of federal agents seemingly terrorizing people.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorizing
Verb
-
That combination—higher costs, fewer flights, and steady demand—has given airlines more room to raise fares without scaring off travelers.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
13 May 2026
-
Schwarzenegger’s strategy energized Californians who wanted to punish incumbent Democrats, but avoided scaring too many of the state’s median voters.—
Conor Friedersdorf,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
Verb
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This war has been a disaster for them, frightening away foreign investors, tourists and talent and burdening them with a future of huge new defense bills to deter Iran after the United States is gone.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
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Clumsiness notwithstanding, bringing a criminal case against a journalist who was reporting on a protest is an authoritarian tactic—a means of frightening the press away from uncovering the truth.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is breathtaking and also terrifying with a 4-year-old along.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
-
Facing the endless Cylon onslaught in the void of space is terrifying even in 2D battles, but many of Scattered Hopes' gut punches happen during unexpected narrative events or tough choices that doom entire ship populations.—
Ian Stokes,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrorizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorizing. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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