1
as in dreadfulness
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay
it's difficult to even begin to comprehend the horror of the Holocaust
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nightmare
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness
had never experienced the horrors of war
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3
4
as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger
imagine my horror at finding myself face to face with a lion on the loose
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in disgust
a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness
cat lover or no, she regards cleaning the litter box with horror
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of horror
Despite the energy brought by the cast, the horrors onstage are sleek and stylized.
—
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 June 2026
The Paramount Pictures release, the sixth entry in the horror spoof franchise, dropped steeply from its opening weekend, down 73%.
—Jake Coyle, Fortune, 15 June 2026
Ten years ago, Orlando was already reeling from a weekend of horror, the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub that left 49 dead, which happened one night after the shooting death of singer Christina Grimmie at a concert.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 June 2026
Best known for supernatural horror films The Prodigy and The Pact, Nicholas McCarthy is repped by Writ Large and Yorn, Levine, Barnes.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for horror
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 June 2026
The Paramount Pictures release, the sixth entry in the horror spoof franchise, dropped steeply from its opening weekend, down 73%.
—Jake Coyle, Fortune, 15 June 2026
Ten years ago, Orlando was already reeling from a weekend of horror, the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub that left 49 dead, which happened one night after the shooting death of singer Christina Grimmie at a concert.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 June 2026
Best known for supernatural horror films The Prodigy and The Pact, Nicholas McCarthy is repped by Writ Large and Yorn, Levine, Barnes.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for horror
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horror
Noun
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Off the record, Harris conveyed her deep despair at the scale of atrocity in Gaza.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
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As a survivor of the Armenian Genocide during World War I, Galentz’s oeuvre serves not only as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit but also the power of creativity amid some of the worst imaginable atrocities.—
The Editors of ARTnews,
ARTnews.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
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This is best for owners who want to offer a meaningful benefit to a growing team without the administrative nightmare of a full-scale corporate plan.—
Chris Kline,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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That’s when the cleanup started…and when Scot Meisenheimer’s medical nightmares began.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
Noun
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Trim overhanging limbs and relocate furniture to avoid popular bird perches that drop messes onto your patio.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
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Three people are dead and she, a completely innocent party in this whole mess, is left holding the check.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Little signs of humanity appeared in every direction, quietly defusing what could have become a disaster instigated by fear.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
14 June 2026
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The event was halted after an hour due to fears about her safety, which distressingly encapsulates a tension that the trans Mayan artist has navigated for years.—
Eugenie Brinkema,
ARTnews.com,
14 June 2026
Noun
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Han and his wife stare at me, disgust written all over their faces.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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The episode met with an enthusiastic response from the Taormina audience with squeals of disgust when Aemond seemingly leans into kiss his mother on the lips; as well as cheers, shocked screams and collective gasps as characters fought to the death, sometimes triumphing and sometimes not.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 June 2026
Noun
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In a world so full of dread and awfulness, why not take a moment to read anonymous petty literary gossip on the internet?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
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The relative excitement around the Rockies having arrived in San Diego at 6-6 is a reaction based on their relative awfulness.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There is a reason why, if and when a goal is scored in the opening game between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday afternoon, TV directors will focus on the scenes of agony and ecstasy both on the pitch and in the stands at Estadio Azteca.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
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Witnesses to previous nitrogen executions in Alabama have described the condemned in apparent agony.—
Abigail Brooks,
NBC news,
10 June 2026
Noun
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Both O’Flynn and Rhys have had spotlight episodes so far this season, but will Emmys voters see the pathos and creativity behind the laughs and frights?—
William Earl,
Variety,
11 June 2026
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Copyright 2025, all frights reserved.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Horror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horror. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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