as in demons
a source of persistent emotional distress
after the death of her father, fear of developing cancer became one of the terrors of her life
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of terrors
As with many of A24's horror movies, we're left to ponder whether anything supernatural happens as Maud's quest reaches its apotheosis, proving that fanatical belief is enough to inspire great terrors.
—
Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
The internet gives us more opportunity to be exposed to noteworthy terrors from other countries.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
This beautiful stop-motion spectacle is a darker rendition than is typical of Pinocchio stories, putting the beloved puppet in a dangerous Italy with fascism on the rise and the very real terrors of the adult world all around him.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
The series is set in the seemingly idyllic town of Blooming Hills, where unknown forces unleash chilling terrors on local teens.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
Repression, self-harm, substance abuse, bullying, jealousy, emotional abuse, and even allusions to grooming, among other terrors of the fog, keep the tensions high from start to finish.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Fletcher, who has been touring a number of the world’s hot spots, used his first trip to Haiti to meet with victims of the gangs’ terrors.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Less accomplished drivers experiencing one of Renault’s tiny terrors (nearly a foot shorter than the original Mazda Miata) for the first time will be delighted, but soon realize that the car’s close-ratio gearbox demands that the engine be revved, and turbo lag comes along for every ride.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 8 Aug. 2025
As the temperature rises underground, this highly contagious and rapidly mutating microorganism multiplies and unleashes its brain-controlling, body-bursting terrors on the facility’s inhabitants – human and otherwise.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2025
Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
The internet gives us more opportunity to be exposed to noteworthy terrors from other countries.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
This beautiful stop-motion spectacle is a darker rendition than is typical of Pinocchio stories, putting the beloved puppet in a dangerous Italy with fascism on the rise and the very real terrors of the adult world all around him.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
The series is set in the seemingly idyllic town of Blooming Hills, where unknown forces unleash chilling terrors on local teens.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
Repression, self-harm, substance abuse, bullying, jealousy, emotional abuse, and even allusions to grooming, among other terrors of the fog, keep the tensions high from start to finish.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Fletcher, who has been touring a number of the world’s hot spots, used his first trip to Haiti to meet with victims of the gangs’ terrors.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Less accomplished drivers experiencing one of Renault’s tiny terrors (nearly a foot shorter than the original Mazda Miata) for the first time will be delighted, but soon realize that the car’s close-ratio gearbox demands that the engine be revved, and turbo lag comes along for every ride.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 8 Aug. 2025
As the temperature rises underground, this highly contagious and rapidly mutating microorganism multiplies and unleashes its brain-controlling, body-bursting terrors on the facility’s inhabitants – human and otherwise.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrors
Noun
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Rather than rob the story of its teeth, this enabled me to explore the pain, loneliness and personal demons of my characters with sympathy rather than stinging bite.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
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When their biggest demonic enemy (Lee Byung-hun) encourages the formation of an equally popular K-pop boy band aimed at stealing the souls of their fans, the trio has to fight harder than ever to hold the demons at bay while keeping their friendship intact.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Scream With Me expands on this argument with its analysis of The Exorcist, a movie that Johnson interprets as a parable about physical abuse; its male demon torments and beats a single working mother and her child.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terrors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrors. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
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