1
as in terrifying
causing fear
couldn't sleep after reading a horrifying tale of evil a horrifying scream brought people running from all directions to see what was wrong
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent
the horrifying sight of a rat running through the restaurant's kitchen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in frightening
to strike with fear
the old black-and-white psychological thriller still horrifies audiences
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of horrifying
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026
At the time it was widely reported that Censori was thinking of leaving Ye amid a deluge of horrifying behavior, and possibly—or so the leering speculation of tabloids and comments sections goes—abuse of Censori herself.
—Anna Peele, Vanity Fair, 6 Feb. 2026
The release of the Epstein files has brought to light horrifying revelations about some of the world's richest and most powerful men.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
Despite the internet shutdown, footage of many horrifying scenes began to emerge, including images of a makeshift morgue set up outside the Legal Medicine Organization (a state forensic institute) in Kahrizak, near Tehran, after the facility’s morgue overflowed with bodies.
—Hamid Kashani, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
De Araújo has been one to watch, a filmmaker of great clarity and vision, one who is not only willing to take on horrifying stories, but to bring them actual new dimension without exploitation.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 3 Feb. 2026
The truth became more horrifying.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026
The Nazi regime was horrifying to them and to all our family.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
But the art of Violette and his cohort tapped into a deeper disillusionment, the kind of corrosive cynicism that pervades a culture in which any sense of possibility for a non-horrifying future has been foreclosed.
—Rachel Wetzler, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
No special effects were required to trigger Curry's stark drift from amiability to horrifying emptiness.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
Television cameras captured the ensuing violence, horrifying much of the nation.
—Time, 12 Sep. 2025
The grisly murder stayed a local story until horrifying CCTV footage of the incident started making the rounds on social media last weekend.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Mainstream Israeli media has increasingly spotlighted the dire starvation crisis in Gaza after months of Israel’s near-total aid blockade, horrifying some Israelis and triggering protests.
—Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Ice Cream Man follows an idyllic summer town descending into madness when an ice cream man serves kids sweet delights with horrifying results.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026
At the time it was widely reported that Censori was thinking of leaving Ye amid a deluge of horrifying behavior, and possibly—or so the leering speculation of tabloids and comments sections goes—abuse of Censori herself.
—Anna Peele, Vanity Fair, 6 Feb. 2026
The release of the Epstein files has brought to light horrifying revelations about some of the world's richest and most powerful men.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
Despite the internet shutdown, footage of many horrifying scenes began to emerge, including images of a makeshift morgue set up outside the Legal Medicine Organization (a state forensic institute) in Kahrizak, near Tehran, after the facility’s morgue overflowed with bodies.
—Hamid Kashani, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
De Araújo has been one to watch, a filmmaker of great clarity and vision, one who is not only willing to take on horrifying stories, but to bring them actual new dimension without exploitation.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 3 Feb. 2026
The truth became more horrifying.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026
The Nazi regime was horrifying to them and to all our family.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
But the art of Violette and his cohort tapped into a deeper disillusionment, the kind of corrosive cynicism that pervades a culture in which any sense of possibility for a non-horrifying future has been foreclosed.
—Rachel Wetzler, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
The visage, created by Universal Studio’s then-lead makeup artist Jack Pierce for the 1931 film, was horrifying enough that its influence endured for almost 100 years.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
No special effects were required to trigger Curry's stark drift from amiability to horrifying emptiness.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
Television cameras captured the ensuing violence, horrifying much of the nation.
—Time, 12 Sep. 2025
The grisly murder stayed a local story until horrifying CCTV footage of the incident started making the rounds on social media last weekend.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Mainstream Israeli media has increasingly spotlighted the dire starvation crisis in Gaza after months of Israel’s near-total aid blockade, horrifying some Israelis and triggering protests.
—Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrifying
Adjective
-
Even the more terrifying creatures, like rattlesnakes and scorpions, have their own undeniable, deadly beauty.—
Becky Bartkowski,
AZCentral.com,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The story that introduced millions of streaming viewers to the Crain family and their terrifying home is getting a brand-new life — this time, on stage.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This story is set in a gruesome, violent, vile world.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Throughout the last two days, Ivey centered himself in faith and gratitude — two grounding principles for a player whose career was derailed in January 2025 by a gruesome leg injury.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Clumsiness notwithstanding, bringing a criminal case against a journalist who was reporting on a protest is an authoritarian tactic—a means of frightening the press away from uncovering the truth.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
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But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The scariest jump in ice skating requires your shoulders, hips, knees and feet to be in perfect alignment.—
Kelly O'Grady,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Range anxiety never sounded so scary.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Hall said his mother’s final moments replay on a horrific loop in his head.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Jacquelyn’s attorney, Andrew Nebenzahl, said the company has ignored horrific crashes and entrapments.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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According to Bloomberg, analysts are already antsy about increasing prices scaring away customers, particularly as the cost of living continues to rise.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
5 Feb. 2026
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Most of that money would go to compensate ranchers for cattle eaten by wolves and for guard dogs, scaring devices or other means to keep them away from livestock.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Miami is now 27-26, still mired in play-in territory, entering today’s matinee at horrible Washington.—
Greg Cote
February 8,
Miami Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
-
A lot of things have happened with regard to that horrible situation the last couple of hours.—
Kathy Tulumello,
AZCentral.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This shocking ignorance and insensitivity by Ocasio-Cortez should rule her out of any potential presidential bid or other high office.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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Viewers barely have time to register what’s in front of them before there’s another shocking accusation, revelation, or character detail.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Horrifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrifying. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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