as in to frighten
to strike with fear
the old black-and-white psychological thriller still horrifies audiences
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Recent Examples of horrify
He was flummoxed, then horrified.
—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Things take an unexpected turn when Aemond, mistaking motherly love for romantic love, leans in and kisses Alicent, leaving her shocked and horrified.
—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 June 2026
Or, nearly 40 years after his death in 1987, would he be horrified by just how relevant its themes still feel?
—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
Or perhaps he’d be horrified by the idea of people getting to witness, over and over again, what were presumably the worst moments of his life.
—
Margherita Bassi,
Popular Science,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for horrify
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Things take an unexpected turn when Aemond, mistaking motherly love for romantic love, leans in and kisses Alicent, leaving her shocked and horrified.
—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 June 2026
Or, nearly 40 years after his death in 1987, would he be horrified by just how relevant its themes still feel?
—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
Or perhaps he’d be horrified by the idea of people getting to witness, over and over again, what were presumably the worst moments of his life.
—
Margherita Bassi,
Popular Science,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for horrify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrify
Verb
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At the time of writing, as the Marine Traffic map shows, tanker traffic is barely moving through the Strait, and many ships, unable to obtain insurance or with their owners frightened at the level of risk involved, are refusing to advance.
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But because the president has frightened Congress, Congress doesn’t raise its voice when the president puts his Albert Speer–like building project, or intends to, on Congress’s land.
Verb
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There was one American flag sign lit, with some storefront decor gleaming red, white and blue, but the heat seemingly scared most away from celebrating July 4 before Saturday's big day.
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Johnson says Monday was her first time on the Wild Mouse attraction; however, the experience did not scare her away from the park.
Verb
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Should Hentges have chosen unemployment instead of a contract because the Giants play in San Francisco and their organization is terrified of people like Slusser?
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While the Fourth of July can be a ton of fun, loud fireworks and firecrackers can terrify pets — and concern their owners.
Verb
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Pochettino’s sources of American sports culture inspiration There were some aspects of American culture, and specifically American sports culture, that clearly startled Pochettino.
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Today Twain would be startled by the passivity of a once-mighty Congress that has all but crumbled in the face of pressure from the White House.
Cite this Entry
“Horrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrify. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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