terrifying
adjective
ter·ri·fy·ing
ˈter-ə-ˌfī-iŋ 
ˈte-rə-
1
: causing terror or apprehension
2
: of a formidable nature
terrifyingly
adverb
Examples of terrifying in a Sentence
The thought of dying alone was terrifying.
heard a terrifying noise coming from the next room
Recent Examples on the Web
Now, at just 8 years old, Sawyer and Anthony are going viral on social media for their jaw-dropping — and often terrifying — cheer stunts, amassing more than 350,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram, with many of their videos reaching millions of views.
—
Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
Unbeknownst to the couple, their daughter was subject to a terrifying ritual and emerges from her slumber in a catatonic state that quickly turns into a living nightmare for the family.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Navarrette plays the bewitched Nikki as a raw nerve, a woman whose unnatural devotion to her boyfriend has her swinging between terrifying extremes.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 18 May 2026
Watching driver onboards is frankly terrifying, given the speed differentials.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrifying
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
Unbeknownst to the couple, their daughter was subject to a terrifying ritual and emerges from her slumber in a catatonic state that quickly turns into a living nightmare for the family.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Navarrette plays the bewitched Nikki as a raw nerve, a woman whose unnatural devotion to her boyfriend has her swinging between terrifying extremes.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 18 May 2026
Watching driver onboards is frankly terrifying, given the speed differentials.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrifying
Cite this Entry
“Terrifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrifying. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
