night terror
noun
: a sudden awakening in dazed terror that occurs in children during slow-wave sleep, is often preceded by a sudden shrill cry uttered in sleep, and is not remembered when the child awakes
—usually used in plural
Examples of night terror in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The late Dan Smith, a Vietnam veteran, old-school west Texas cowboy who died in his son’s arms, a moment Mike would relive for months through night terrors and daytime flashbacks.
—
Andrew Callahan, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
As Matt Woosnam reflected recently, the Premier League’s feel-good story has lurched into night terrors.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
How is the Grabber connected to Alpine Lake Camp?
Dreams (and dream logic) abound in Black Phone 2, which begins with Gwen enduring violent night terrors about young boys who were murdered at the nearby Alpine Lake Camp in 1957, 25 years prior to the events of the sequel.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
In the Blumhouse sequel, Finney (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) are understandably shaken by the events of the first film, an issue that manifests in vivid night terrors for Gwen, and pot-smoking and fist fights for Finney.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
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Andrew Callahan, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
As Matt Woosnam reflected recently, the Premier League’s feel-good story has lurched into night terrors.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
How is the Grabber connected to Alpine Lake Camp?
Dreams (and dream logic) abound in Black Phone 2, which begins with Gwen enduring violent night terrors about young boys who were murdered at the nearby Alpine Lake Camp in 1957, 25 years prior to the events of the sequel.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
In the Blumhouse sequel, Finney (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) are understandably shaken by the events of the first film, an issue that manifests in vivid night terrors for Gwen, and pot-smoking and fist fights for Finney.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for night terror
Cite this Entry
“Night terror.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/night%20terror. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
night terror
noun
night ter·ror
-ˈter-ər 
: a sudden awakening in dazed terror that occurs in children during slow-wave sleep, is often preceded by a sudden shrill cry uttered in sleep, and is not remembered when the child awakes
—usually used in plural
called also pavor nocturnus
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