terrifying

adjective

ter·​ri·​fy·​ing ˈter-ə-ˌfī-iŋ How to pronounce terrifying (audio)
ˈte-rə-
Synonyms of terrifyingnext
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
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.
By Sunday, April 4, the cake shop had made a purchasable version of the viral lamb cake — though arguably less terrifying than its AI inspiration. Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 5 Apr. 2026 And with Max Fried already leading the charge and potentially soon a healthy Gerrit Cole as well, his ascension could give the Yankees a terrifying trio atop their rotation come playoff time. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026 What was John thinking before the surface of the water appeared before his windshield, rushing forward at terrifying speed? Jeffrey Eugenides, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2026 As The Boys presents a terrifying dystopia under Homelander (Antony Starr) in the fifth and final season, Eric Kripke recently noted that any narrative similarities to our current dystopia are purely coincidental. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for terrifying

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of terrifying was circa 1586

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Cite this Entry

“Terrifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrifying. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

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