as in frightened
filled with fear or dread
terrified dogs hiding under the couch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scared
to strike with fear
the prospect of speaking in front of a huge crowd of people absolutely terrifies me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of terrified
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Wolf attacks on cattle, which began in earnest in the summer of 2018, this year escalated to a degree that strained local law enforcement and terrified residents.
—Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Marking 50 years since Jaws terrified moviegoers, the Academy Museum showcases props, behind-the-scenes footage, and explores how the film created an irrational fear of sharks worldwide.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
At which point Tyler re-enters the room and is given up by the terrified crowd (and, more importantly, anointed by Joan) as one of three people — including Bracken and one of the show’s dancers — who must make the film’s titular sacrifice to save the world from an imminent catastrophe.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
Back at Leoch, Ellen is terrified that Dougal is going to tell Colum about Brian.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
In a recent video posted to the AI Bible's Youtube channel, buildings crumble and terrified-looking people claw their way through the rubble.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
Parents are terrified, doctors are overwhelmed, and public confidence in our nation’s health leadership has collapsed.
—CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Within the film’s compact running time, writer-director Ben Hania traces the fraught and torturous hours of January 29, 2024, when Palestine Red Crescent volunteers in the West Bank tried to calm a terrified 6-year-old girl and get an ambulance to her in Gaza.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
Kristi Dosh, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Murillo recalled a Cuban grandmother whose grandchildren were terrified to go to school after their father was detained in front of them at their own home by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
—Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
There are children that are terrified of their lives being destroyed in a moment.
—EW.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Undocumented workers are terrified right now.
—Jenn Tardy, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
So naturally, Oliver, who is already terrified of the mob, panics and brings the body upstairs with him in a laundry cart, which is never ideal.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
All of this terrified his father, Charlie, a former cop who had a premonition that something would go wrong.
—Seth Wickersham, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
Lewis, the five-star recruit and the people’s choice, looked good handing off and terrified on obvious passing downs.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
We might be terrified of it and not want to recognize our own mortality.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The mother, Diana Estremera, was terrified.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Wolf attacks on cattle, which began in earnest in the summer of 2018, this year escalated to a degree that strained local law enforcement and terrified residents.
—Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Marking 50 years since Jaws terrified moviegoers, the Academy Museum showcases props, behind-the-scenes footage, and explores how the film created an irrational fear of sharks worldwide.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
At which point Tyler re-enters the room and is given up by the terrified crowd (and, more importantly, anointed by Joan) as one of three people — including Bracken and one of the show’s dancers — who must make the film’s titular sacrifice to save the world from an imminent catastrophe.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
Back at Leoch, Ellen is terrified that Dougal is going to tell Colum about Brian.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
In a recent video posted to the AI Bible's Youtube channel, buildings crumble and terrified-looking people claw their way through the rubble.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
Parents are terrified, doctors are overwhelmed, and public confidence in our nation’s health leadership has collapsed.
—CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Within the film’s compact running time, writer-director Ben Hania traces the fraught and torturous hours of January 29, 2024, when Palestine Red Crescent volunteers in the West Bank tried to calm a terrified 6-year-old girl and get an ambulance to her in Gaza.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
In that episode, the college football fans are terrified to find themselves in Pro Town, a place where people go to yoga on Saturdays.
—Kristi Dosh, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Murillo recalled a Cuban grandmother whose grandchildren were terrified to go to school after their father was detained in front of them at their own home by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
—Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
There are children that are terrified of their lives being destroyed in a moment.
—EW.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Undocumented workers are terrified right now.
—Jenn Tardy, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
So naturally, Oliver, who is already terrified of the mob, panics and brings the body upstairs with him in a laundry cart, which is never ideal.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
All of this terrified his father, Charlie, a former cop who had a premonition that something would go wrong.
—Seth Wickersham, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
Lewis, the five-star recruit and the people’s choice, looked good handing off and terrified on obvious passing downs.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
We might be terrified of it and not want to recognize our own mortality.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrified
Adjective
-
Republicans are frightened, too.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Farima was withdrawn and frightened.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The group, which features members all wearing terrifying masks — something that delighted millions of fans at the turn of the millennium and scared plenty of others — is back on the Billboard charts, not with new music, but with the full-length that started it all.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
That night, Encinitas residents and regional immigrant rights advocates hosted a protest rally outside City Hall, then flooded into a City Council meeting demanding that council members take immediate action, saying the armed and masked agents scared them and their children.—
Barbara Henry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Beck has a fluid, quick throwing motion and isn’t afraid to fit the ball into tight windows.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Luckily, the 2025 Emmys shows us that, now more than ever, men aren’t afraid to show a little personality in their red carpet looks.—
Brett F. Braley-Palko,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Seagulls lift off the beach, startled by the sudden salty cacophony.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
While some dogs are more confident, others may become easily startled by noises, objects, or movements that appear harmless to humans.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Prime Video series ends with a horrified Daniel looking at Cherry, who's shown smiling at him with her hands calmly resting on very pregnant belly.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Hoffman can’t help but cut me off in horrified pity.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The astonishing Laanstra-Corn does not play Hedvig purely as an innocent; there’s something as dangerous and emotionally labile in her shocked face as there is in Gregers’s explosive outbursts.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The following summer, in August 2024, she was shocked to see her renewal cost.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Parents will be especially alarmed and this will place terrible burdens on pediatricians who will need to assuage their worries in order to provide important protections against serious and sometimes fatal diseases.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
That move alarmed Israeli officials who question the motives of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander.—
Gram Slattery,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But hundreds of thousands still remain, fearful of moving south despite a severe lack of food and a barrage of airstrikes.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The sheriff said Robinson was fearful of being killed by police and asked to avoid a SWAT standoff.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terrified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrified. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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