Terrify – Definition, Meaning and Synonyms

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Definition of Terrify (adjective)

Terrify is an adjective that describes something that causes extreme fear or dread. It implies an overwhelming level of horror that often results in shock or panic.

Examples

  • The terrifying noise made everyone freeze in fear.
  • Her terrifying appearance made the children run away.
  • The terrifying thunderstorm left the town in darkness.
  • The terrifying thought of failure haunted him all night.
  • The terrifying speed of the car scared the onlookers.
  • The terrifying image of the creature stayed with him.
  • His terrifying experience in the war changed him forever.
  • The terrifying sight of the fire spread panic throughout the crowd.

Meaning

  • Frightening
  • Fearful
  • Alarming

Pronunciation

  • UK: /ˈtɛrɪfaɪ/ (TEH-ree-fye)
  • US: /ˈtɛrəˌfaɪ/ (TEH-ree-fye)

Synonyms

  • Frightening
  • Horrifying
  • Alarming
  • Dreadful
  • Chilling
  • Scary
  • Spine-chilling
  • Shocking
  • Appalling
  • Eerie
  • Disturbing
  • Horrific
  • Unsettling
  • Intimidating
  • Fearsome

Usage Tips for Terrify

  • Used to describe actions, sights, or sounds that provoke intense fear.
  • It is often used for experiences or situations that cause shock.
  • Avoid using it for mild or minor discomfort.
  • Best used to emphasize fear or dread in an extreme sense.

Origin

Terrify (1500s):

It is derived from the Latin terrificare meaning frighten.

Similar Words to Terrify

  • Frightening
  • Chilling
  • Scary
  • Appalling
  • Disturbing
  • Horrifying
  • Shocking
  • Eerie
  • Dreadful
  • Spine-chilling

FAQs

Q: What is the meaning of terrify in Urdu?

Ans: In Urdu, terrify means دہشت زدہ or خوفزدہ.

Q: How do we use terrify in a sentence?

Ans: The terrifying movie left everyone too scared to speak.

Q: What’s the difference between terrify and frighten?

Ans: Terrify implies an extreme level of fear, while frighten can describe any form of fear.

Related Words:

Abandon Baffle Callous
Abhor Ban Chaotic
Abysmal Barbaric Cheap
Aggressive Betray Chide
Agony Bitter Complicate
Alienate Blame Condemn
Anguish Blight Confuse
Annoy Boring Corrupt
Anxious Brash Cruel
Arrogant Brutal Cynical
Damage Egotistical Fail
Danger Embarrass Fake
Deceive Enrage Fallacy
Defeat Envy Fatal
Defiant Erratic Fear
Depress Evade Feeble
Deride Exclude Feud
Despair Exhaust Flaw
Destroy Exploit Foolish
Disgust Extort Frustrate
Garrulous Haphazard Ignorant
Gaudy Harass Illogical
Glutton Harm Immature
Grieve Harsh Impair
Grudge Hate Impede
Gullible Heinous Impolite
Grimy Horrible Inane
Grievous Hostile Incite
Grim Humiliate Incompetent
Grotesque Hypocritical Infuriate
Jealous Kill Lame
Jittery Knavish Languish
Jeer Knock Lazy
Jaded Kooky Liable
Jaundiced Kink Lie
Jeopardize Keen Loathe
Jarring Jitter Lousy
Jinx Judge Ludicrous
Malice Nasty Obnoxious
Manipulate Neglect Obsessive
Meddle Nefarious Obsolete
Menace Nuisance Odious
Miserable Numb Offend
Mock Nullify Ominous
Morose Nag Oppress
Mourn Nauseate Outrage
Muddle Niggardly Overwhelm
Mute Nonchalant Ostracize
Pain Quarrel Rabid
Panic Quash Rage
Pathetic Queasy Rant
Peril Quibble Rebuff
Pessimistic Quicksand Reckless
Pity Quell Regret
Plague Quarrelsome Reject
Plummet Quixotic Repress
Prejudice Quack Repulse
Provoke Quicksilver Resent
Sabotage Tarnish Ugly
Sad Tease Unfair
Scorn Terrify Unkind
Slander Threat Untrustworthy
Sneer Tragic Upset
Spite Treacherous Useless
Stubborn Troubled Uproar
Subdue Turbulent Unyielding
Suffocate Tyrant Unstable
Suspicious Tense Uncouth
Vague Wail Xenophobic
Vain Weary Vex
Vengeful Wicked Whine
Vicious Withdraw Yell
Vindictive Worry Yucky
Violent Wound Yawn
Vile Wrath Zany
Volatile Wretched Zealot
Voracious Wince Zombie

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