terror

Definition of terrornext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word terror distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of terror are alarm, dread, fear, fright, panic, and trepidation. While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

immobilized with terror

When is it sensible to use alarm instead of terror?

The words alarm and terror are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

view the situation with alarm

When might dread be a better fit than terror?

While in some cases nearly identical to terror, dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety.

faced the meeting with dread

When can fear be used instead of terror?

The words fear and terror can be used in similar contexts, but fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

fear of the unknown

In what contexts can fright take the place of terror?

While the synonyms fright and terror are close in meaning, fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

fright at being awakened suddenly

Where would panic be a reasonable alternative to terror?

The synonyms panic and terror are sometimes interchangeable, but panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

the news caused widespread panic

How do trepidation and dread relate to one another, in the sense of terror?

Trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation.

raised the subject with trepidation

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of terror But its function is political, linking that criminal activity to the aims and methods of political terror. Evandro Cruz Silva, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026 Two years ago, the Summer Games in Paris opened under threats of political sabotage by Russia, fears of Islamist terror plots and the spillover from the Israel-Hamas war. Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026 When Robbie first strokes the plush walls, her Cathy stares with the appropriate mix of awe and terror. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026 This feels like intentional terror. Ernesto Burden, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for terror
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terror
Noun
  • In the movie, HUNTR/X, the worldwide K-pop girl group made up of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, spends their off-hours battling demons.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The movie, about a pop girl group, HUNTR/X, that fights demons and protect South Korea from them, was a smash hit.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The killings of Good and Pretti sparked further fear and backlash.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Twelve years after an NFL game was first shown on television in a period of fear of war and triumph in war, the championship game itself was broadcast across the country for the first time.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The torment of Cathy’s abusive brother shifts to the hands of her father, played by Martin Clunes.
    Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • This is also my war—my resistance to it, my torment over it, my struggle against it.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Our cousins just over the border in Wisconsin kept up a steady stream of taunts, trash-talking the Bears and causing us all a lot of anxiety as the minutes ticked by.
    Erendira Rendon, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Experts say exercise during pregnancy and after birth can help lower anxiety, improve sleep, and boost your mood.
    Hannah Silverman, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The filmmaker leans pop-comic rather than petrifying in his final draft, opting for earnestness that smothers atmospheric dread.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
  • In its worst forms, paranoia is a misapplication of the tools of attention, devotion, and care, scuttled by dread, the oppression of the unknown, and a lack of support.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • January’s nonfarm payrolls report and consumer price index, set to hit screens days after their original release dates , could re-instill confidence in the market following a recent bout of panic selling.
    Sarah Min, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2026
  • That level of panic is premature, experts say.
    Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Terror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terror. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on terror

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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