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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of horror
Ryan keeps to the room’s edges, watching with a mix of amusement and horror.
—
Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
Jack Smith is a director who’s spent his career churning out microbudget horror flicks on his own rural property, using his own family as cast and crew.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
The Actor award went to Amy Madigan, a lone nominee from a horror film who’s swimming against a prevailing current that favors Best Picture heavyweights.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
The work could also inspire wearable devices that safely boost thrilling experiences, such as video games and horror films, Vanman adds.
—Simon Makin, Scientific American, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for horror
Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
Jack Smith is a director who’s spent his career churning out microbudget horror flicks on his own rural property, using his own family as cast and crew.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
The Actor award went to Amy Madigan, a lone nominee from a horror film who’s swimming against a prevailing current that favors Best Picture heavyweights.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
The work could also inspire wearable devices that safely boost thrilling experiences, such as video games and horror films, Vanman adds.
—Simon Makin, Scientific American, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for horror
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horror
Noun
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An actual nightmare marks the transition into The Secret Agent’s explosive third act.—
Michael Snyder,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
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Ragusa’s paintings explore opulence, yet evoke a kind of existential angst, while Brown’s work reclaims the symbols that haunt our nightmares, turning fear into empowerment.—
Anya Sesay,
jsonline.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But amid the mess of UCLA’s 72-59 win over 14th-seeded Rutgers was a slippery star point guard in the middle of one of his masterworks, not only lifting the Bruins to victory but passing and rebounding and defending his way into the Big Ten tournament record books.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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However, that kind of financially freewheeling behavior has placed the Dolphins in their present cap hell, dwelling in an accounting mess the franchise will spend the next season pinching pennies for, forced to navigate their way out of.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Eyes wide, panting near panic, Foster perfectly captures the audience's own fear of being alone in the dark with a monster.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
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Iran’s neighbors, particularly Turkey and Iraq, are preparing contingency plans including border fortifications and refugee shelters amid fears of a potential crisis.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In another scene, Styles reacts with disgust after learning that a car accident victim in immense pain is up-to-date on his vaccines.—
William Vaillancourt,
Rolling Stone,
15 Mar. 2026
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The close-ups of the fans who did stay in pain, looking away in disgust and consoling one another, were powerful.—
Joe Prince-Wright,
NBC news,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This is a story that traces the path to justice for mass atrocity in the face of public acquiescence.—
Sheila Coronel,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
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Violence in the backcountry between Americans and Native people intensified, fueled by rhetoric justifying atrocities and the expulsion of Indigenous nations to address Americans’ demand for new land.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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His injured spine, largely untreated since a wall collapsed on him during an Israeli air raid nine months ago, was still in agony, leaving him incontinent and unable to stand.—
Steve Hendrix,
Washington Post,
11 Mar. 2026
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For the second time in less than three weeks, the Bayern Munich left-back and Canada captain was forced to hobble off the pitch in agony.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The real fright, though, came midway through that final frame, when star center Dylan Larkin went down in a heap after his skate seemed to catch awkwardly on the ice.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Many movies tried to recreate its magic mixture, including some of its own sequels, but few achieved the merry concoction of frights, gore, and giggles that Craven handled so masterfully.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The president is fighting against historical headwinds for the party in power and, like President Joe Biden before him, is navigating voter anxiety about the cost of living in America.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Mar. 2026
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In a year where anxiety over studio contraction and the rise of artificial intelligence often consumed the industry, both films gave Hollywood fresh hope.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Horror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horror. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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