as in frightening
causing fear
heard a terrifying noise coming from the next room
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scaring
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 terrifying
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 23 July 2025
Cities on the sanctuary city list right now are experiencing a terrifying increase in raids by ICE, including mass raids.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 22 July 2025
The three governments, working under great pressure, devoted unprecedented resources to create the terrifying weapon used with terrible effect to decisively end the war with Imperial Japan in August 1945.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2025
For Bertram, whose family winery has roots deep in the terraced vineyards of the valley, the night was a blur of frantic decisions and terrifying uncertainty.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrifying
Adjective
The Black Sabbath front man, who died yesterday at age 76, helped invent heavy metal—a sound and a countercultural identity with terrifying connotations.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 23 July 2025
Cities on the sanctuary city list right now are experiencing a terrifying increase in raids by ICE, including mass raids.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 22 July 2025
The three governments, working under great pressure, devoted unprecedented resources to create the terrifying weapon used with terrible effect to decisively end the war with Imperial Japan in August 1945.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2025
For Bertram, whose family winery has roots deep in the terraced vineyards of the valley, the night was a blur of frantic decisions and terrifying uncertainty.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrifying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrifying
Adjective
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One of the most effectively frightening gags in the movie is little more than an actor in ghoulish makeup tunneling under a bedsheet.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
31 July 2025
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And frightening, even to the leaders around Xi Jinping in Beijing.—
Kerry Brown,
Time,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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The scary thing about Jefferson's injury is that he was also kept out of multiple games in 2023 due to a hamstring injury.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
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Back at home, Percy finally finds his mom, but the season ends on an ominous note when Kronos delivers what Percy thinks is a threat but is actually a very scary warning: Kronos' return depends on Percy's survival.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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The bullpen, led by closer Edwin Díaz, looks formidable.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
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Minnesota Twins – Faced with formidable financial worries, the former home of Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Rod Carew, and Jim Kaat spent the deadline dumping salaries.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Because of Denise Gough's human frailty as a woman destroyed by her own ambition and Kyle Soller's cowardice in the face of a horrible truth.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
23 July 2025
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Soak up the gall of losing, absorb the horrible information, feel it to the full, go there—and then rebound, with superb elasticity.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Friday was particularly unsettling as terrible jobs data slammed the market and triggered President Donald Trump .—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
2 Aug. 2025
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My heart goes out to all of the Jewish children, grandchildren and future great-grandchildren who must ultimately bear the brunt of the terrible additional worldwide antisemitism caused directly by the horrific actions of the Israeli government over the past two years.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Recently, Altra added low drop shoes to its offerings, which can be less intimidating that flat, zero-drop shoes for beginners.—
Lauren Wingenroth,
SELF,
25 July 2025
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The library’s glorious 1911 Beaux Arts building on Fifth Avenue, while free and open to the public, is physically intimidating—cold in its marble grandeur, confusing in its labyrinthine layout.—
Brian Schaefer
July 7,
Literary Hub,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terrifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrifying. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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