TERRIFYING Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

terrifying 1 of 2

adjective

ˈter-ə-ˌfī-iŋ

Definition of terrifying

as in frightening

causing fear heard a terrifying noise coming from the next room

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

terrifying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of terrify

as in scaring

to strike with fear the prospect of speaking in front of a huge crowd of people absolutely terrifies me

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 terrifying

Adjective

The most terrifying shots in It Follows weren’t about jump scares, but about the monster inexorably stalking toward characters who hadn’t seen it yet. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026 As terrifying as an unwritten future can be, there’s something equally scary about certainty. — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

Verb

Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is breathtaking and also terrifying with a 4-year-old along. — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 17 May 2026 Facing the endless Cylon onslaught in the void of space is terrifying even in 2D battles, but many of Scattered Hopes' gut punches happen during unexpected narrative events or tough choices that doom entire ship populations. — Ian Stokes, Space.com, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for terrifying

Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrifying

Adjective

But the ordeal was frightening and bewildering for Cliffel, who still didn't know what had caused her behavior.

— Deborah Becker, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026
There’s a frightening imbalance in how the mainstream media report on these candidates, which tends to take it pretty easy on the latter.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of frightening

Verb

Be a menace to people in the community, driving his boat 70 to 80 miles per hour, driving around scaring the heck out of people, taking people's lives.

— Lauren Victory, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Notably, the research shows that pumas contribute most to decreased deer-vehicle collisions by scaring their prey, and not killing them, highlights Mark Elbroch, director of the Puma Program for Panthera and also a study co-author.

— Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of scaring

Adjective

After the crew leaves the island with the sun god’s cattle, the seas are vicious, scary, and violent.

— Wisdom Iheanyichukwu, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026
The 13-year-old has his life back after a scary ordeal with epilepsy that seemed to come out of nowhere three years ago.

— Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of scary

Verb

Last week, an F/A-18 Super Hornet from the Blue Angels, the Navy’s flight-demonstration team, zoomed dangerously low along the Florida coast, stirring up sand and umbrellas, startling some beachgoers—and, it must be said, delighting many others.

— Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026
Cortlandt Koerwitz/Instagram A family's Fourth of July outing took a frightening turn when a bear charged at a father outside his Lake Tahoe vacation home after startling his daughters.

— Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 9 July 2026

Definition of startling

Adjective

Miami entered the game riding a seven-match unbeaten streak in league play and leading MLS with 45 goals, but facing a formidable foe in Nashville.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026
This one stars Cox himself as a mysterious and formidable old man in an undertaker’s suit and parson’s hat who wanders into an Arizona border town in 1890 to gather the names of dead Mexican laborers.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of formidable

Adjective

Whatever cloud of innocence has hung over Jo’s life until this point is shattered, both parents struggling how to navigate the horrible experience from an emotional as well as a purely bureaucratic perspective.

— Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
After years of seeing enough photos of fabulous wealth and horrible tragedy, these types of images cease to shock us.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of horrible

Adjective

The record is 92,003, an intimidating number that AT&T Stadium can easily accommodate, and a figure that is an unspoken goal for an event coming to Arlington this month.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026
The nozzle is also relatively easy to access and replace from the front of the toolhead, making swaps and maintenance far less intimidating than on many older enthusiast printers.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of intimidating

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“Terrifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrifying. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of terrifying

adjective

verb

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