as in gruesome
causing great horror or fear
We heard bloodcurdling stories about the war. bloodcurdling screams
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Recent Examples of bloodcurdling
Bahm’s somewhat-frantic conversation with the dispatcher abruptly turned into bloodcurdling screams.
—
Sean Emery, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
India’s largest state, Uttar Pradesh, is run by Yogi Adityanath, a Hindu monk who founded an anti-Muslim militia and whose bloodcurdling rhetoric against Muslims once placed him beyond the pale of high office.
—Sadanand Dhume, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
In Act III, the bloodcurdling chorus of the Dutchman’s spectral crew lacked a persuasive visual component.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2020
The sounds of more explosions could be heard deriving from the outside amid more seemingly bloodcurdling screams, yells, sirens and alarms.
—Sean Lester Durham, The Root, 8 Apr. 2018
To me, a noose is merely a noose — not a bloodcurdling symbol of racist violence.
—Kevin Riordan, Philly.com, 1 Nov. 2017
A young girl issued bloodcurdling screams as nurses cleaned cuts running up her leg.
—Azam Ahmed, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2016
Sean Emery, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
India’s largest state, Uttar Pradesh, is run by Yogi Adityanath, a Hindu monk who founded an anti-Muslim militia and whose bloodcurdling rhetoric against Muslims once placed him beyond the pale of high office.
—Sadanand Dhume, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
In Act III, the bloodcurdling chorus of the Dutchman’s spectral crew lacked a persuasive visual component.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2020
The sounds of more explosions could be heard deriving from the outside amid more seemingly bloodcurdling screams, yells, sirens and alarms.
—Sean Lester Durham, The Root, 8 Apr. 2018
To me, a noose is merely a noose — not a bloodcurdling symbol of racist violence.
—Kevin Riordan, Philly.com, 1 Nov. 2017
A young girl issued bloodcurdling screams as nurses cleaned cuts running up her leg.
—Azam Ahmed, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bloodcurdling
Adjective
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The teens recorded their attack Monday and the gruesome 10 minute video was widely shared to a website where people post videos depicting extreme violence.—
Anna Schecter,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
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Similarly economical and granularly detailed is a 20-minute sequence in the middle of the film that’s gruesome, comical and crucial to the propulsion of the story.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2026
Adjective
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And also, the way that the wish is impacting Bear is ultimately horrific.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
18 May 2026
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But a new era of DEI was ushered in after the horrific murder of George Floyd.—
Janice Gassam Asare,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Part of what makes Nikki so scary is that these intense moments seem to come out of nowhere.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
18 May 2026
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Two friends from Auburn and Berkeley were meeting halfway for a picnic in Sacramento but said even driving there in the strong wind was scary.—
Kayla Moeller,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Eidinger is perfect for the role, and his escalating temper tantrums — almost camp at first, with delicious echoes of Christoph Waltz’s Hans Landa — become frightening in their intensity.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
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But at Medley Club, residents never lost power during the entire frightening ordeal.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
For Orlo Vista residents, the disaster unfolded with terrifying speed.—
Greg Bennett,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
-
Nicholls opened Rockwater not long after Cyclone Pam, a terrifying storm that churned through Vanuatu and inflicted $600 million in damage.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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That could be a terrific part of the B & W story.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
17 May 2026
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Still, Garance’s death stare into the void, where this woman is still hard-boozing 90 minutes into the movie, starts to run its premise thin despite Exarchopoulos’ terrific and totally internalized turn.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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As shocking as this slush fund is, it should best be understood as one more test for what the administration can get away with.—
The Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 May 2026
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Slaten endured a shocking meltdown, allowing a pair of two-run home runs that put the Twins ahead in Boston’s eventual 8-6 loss.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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Which is horrible, just that amount of women being murdered.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
17 May 2026
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Hmmm, a book about climate change, economic hardship, labor shortages, rising food prices, and a family having a horrible time?—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bloodcurdling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bloodcurdling. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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