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
The war in Iran has horrified many inside the country, but some worry that peace could be just as frightening.
—
Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2026
Daughter Jo Antoniette Brakes said when her father was rushed from the nursing home to the hospital for heart issues, the doctor was horrified at his condition.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
Reading the flood of comments that piled up underneath the posts, I was horrified to see how many expressed solidarity with the chef rather than with his victims.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
In the years since Boogie Nights, Leo has made an unlikely hit out of The Man in the Iron Mask, then took the role of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, showing off his range and turning that surreal and often horrifying movie into another $100 million feather in his cap.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for horrify
Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2026
Daughter Jo Antoniette Brakes said when her father was rushed from the nursing home to the hospital for heart issues, the doctor was horrified at his condition.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
Reading the flood of comments that piled up underneath the posts, I was horrified to see how many expressed solidarity with the chef rather than with his victims.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
In the years since Boogie Nights, Leo has made an unlikely hit out of The Man in the Iron Mask, then took the role of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, showing off his range and turning that surreal and often horrifying movie into another $100 million feather in his cap.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for horrify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrify
Verb
-
Some frighten people, while others delight them.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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The marsupial escaped from Sunshine Farm in Necedah, a village about 90 miles away from Madison, on March 25, after being frightened by barking dogs, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bossche says the encounter with the rattler hasn't scared her off the trails for good.—
Jasmine Viel,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
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The outlet reported that, in the other scenario, guides and hotel staff, according to the CIB probe, have been coached to scare trekkers at high altitude, where altitude sickness can occur.—
Alex Nitzberg,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Residents of Tehran, the Iranian capital, say they are exhausted by the bombs that have battered their city on a daily basis and terrified of the security checkpoints that have popped up looking for spies.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
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Since his detainment, Maria said that she's been terrified of leaving the home.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This is a novel about Jewish bodies and how people respond to them, the toll of obsession, and the conflicting currents of desire and unease that shake and startle a deep romantic fixation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
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Kevin Uribe, another employee, said the sound of the collapse initially startled him.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Horrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrify. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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