petrified
adjective
pet·ri·fied
ˈpe-trə-ˌfīd 
1
: converted into stone through a slow process of mineralization
petrified wood
a petrified forest
And at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History's annual dinosaur ball, about 800 patrons in black tie or gown waltz among the petrified remains of the once-glorious creatures.—
Sheldon Teitelbaum
Sheldon Teitelbaum2
: overwhelmingly fearful
was petrified of speaking in public
: rendered motionless or unable to act by fear
Charlie climbed onto the bed and tried to calm the three old people who were still petrified with fear. "Please don't be frightened," he said. "It's quite safe. And we're going to the most wonderful place in the world!"—Roald Dahl
Roald DahlWinky's petrified brown eyes were visible through her fingers. She seemed too appalled to speak.—J. K. Rowling
J. K. RowlingExamples of petrified in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Petrified Forest Loop Just west of the South Unit lies the third-largest concentration of petrified wood in the country.
—Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 1 June 2026
Scenic drives along winding roads and unpaved hiking trails reveal petrified forests and dramatic canyon overlooks.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026
You can’t be discouraged and petrified simultaneously.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
To the northeast, a buildup of reef and limestone from 260 million years ago holds petrified remains of marine creatures, souvenirs of the greatest flood in history.
—Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for petrified
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Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 1 June 2026
Scenic drives along winding roads and unpaved hiking trails reveal petrified forests and dramatic canyon overlooks.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026
You can’t be discouraged and petrified simultaneously.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
To the northeast, a buildup of reef and limestone from 260 million years ago holds petrified remains of marine creatures, souvenirs of the greatest flood in history.
—Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for petrified
Cite this Entry
“Petrified.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petrified. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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