as in frightened
filled with fear or dread
the terrorized victims didn't know where to run during the bombing raid
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scared
to strike with fear
thunderstorms terrorize our cats, who all scamper downstairs when lightning flashes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of terrorized
Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
These attacks often provided a larger cultural pretext for the campaigns of extralegal political violence that terrorized Black voters in the South, assassinated political leaders, and marred the integrity of several of the region’s major elections.
—Robert D. Bland, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
King's 1986 horror novel told the story of seven children terrorized by an evil entity called It, which exploits its victims using their own fears.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
In further news of book people showing up for each other, and for the rest of us, a dedicated group of publishing and culture workers has organized an auction to raise funds in support of communities terrorized by ICE and DHS.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Starring Don Cheadle, Ving Rhames, and Jon Voight, Rosewood is based on real events of the Rosewood Massacre that happened in 1923, when a Black community in Rosewood, Florida was terrorized by a racist white mob and burned to the ground.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
The Bain-Mesidor combo terrorized opposing offenses for much of the 2025 season.
—Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Torn apart families … terrorized neighborhoods.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Thousands of children have been terrorized, detained, and many have been deported because of ICE’s unchecked barbarity.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
This is about a fight against a system that consistently has terrorized Southern California streets and recently, in Minneapolis, resulted in the deaths of two American citizens at the hands of agents of the American government.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
These attacks often provided a larger cultural pretext for the campaigns of extralegal political violence that terrorized Black voters in the South, assassinated political leaders, and marred the integrity of several of the region’s major elections.
—Robert D. Bland, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
King's 1986 horror novel told the story of seven children terrorized by an evil entity called It, which exploits its victims using their own fears.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
In further news of book people showing up for each other, and for the rest of us, a dedicated group of publishing and culture workers has organized an auction to raise funds in support of communities terrorized by ICE and DHS.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Starring Don Cheadle, Ving Rhames, and Jon Voight, Rosewood is based on real events of the Rosewood Massacre that happened in 1923, when a Black community in Rosewood, Florida was terrorized by a racist white mob and burned to the ground.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
The Bain-Mesidor combo terrorized opposing offenses for much of the 2025 season.
—Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Torn apart families … terrorized neighborhoods.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Thousands of children have been terrorized, detained, and many have been deported because of ICE’s unchecked barbarity.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorized
Adjective
-
While protesters may be frightened and grieving after last month's bloodbath, they're not mollified.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Inside the bathysphere of the novel, readers make contact with a darkness that our frightened minds might otherwise reject.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That scream likely scared off the man who showed no signs of backing off.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Broadly, more IPOs are expected this year, thanks to interest rate cuts and a large backlog of companies that have been scared off by market volatility and recession fears.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In one of those realities (the actual one most of us are living in), a growing number of people across the political spectrum are angered, terrified and disgusted by actions being taken in their names by people and agencies which seem to have little or no accountability.—
Brenda Looper,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
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The bodycam video was an eye-opening look at the frightening aftermath of the Brown campus shooting when police were searching room-by-room for the suspect, trying to comfort and care for terrified students, and trying to coordinate with campus police to get past locked doors.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Twyla Tharp’s ballet Push Comes to Shove, which premiered in 1976, startled and delighted audiences with its coy, self-referential humor, and its flirtation with popular dance styles such as jazz and tango.—
Sara Krolewski,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
-
After several chest compressions, Briana startled awake and cried.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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What happens to the funding for buses and light rail when people are afraid to ride them, and no one buys bus tickets?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Too Much Wall Art Wall art is a great way to make a space feel more complete, but don't be afraid to leave some blank space here and there.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
You’re just horrified at what those kinds of impacts have.—
Andrew Dampf,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
-
You’re just horrified at what those kinds of impacts have.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Reigning champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman, also known as MJF, looked shocked as the chant began, staring into the camera wide eyed before scanning the crowd.—
Isabel Yip,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Fans shared their shocked reactions to the incident on social media.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Others in Guojun’s orbit were more alarmed.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
This year's software stock sell-off, which accelerated Tuesday, has alarmed investors, traders and analysts who worry the slide has further to go.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrorized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorized. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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