terrify
verb
ter·ri·fy
ˈter-ə-ˌfī 
ˈte-rə-
terrified; terrifying
1
a
: to drive or impel by menacing : scare
b
: deter, intimidate
2
: to fill with terror
Examples of terrify in a Sentence
The thought of dying alone terrifies her.
the prospect of speaking in front of a huge crowd of people absolutely terrifies me
Recent Examples on the Web
Sebastian Krautz went viral on NBC10 Boston this week after admitting he was initially terrified to travel to the United States because of news about crime and safety.
—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
4 July 2026
Even now at more than 50 years old, there is something undeniable about the movie’s ability to entertain, delight and terrify an audience.
—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
The old him would have been terrified of going onstage, a public humiliation waiting to happen.
—
Sophie Lindberg,
Kansas City Star,
3 July 2026
Should Hentges have chosen unemployment instead of a contract because the Giants play in San Francisco and their organization is terrified of people like Slusser?
—
Ian Miller Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrify
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Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
4 July 2026
Even now at more than 50 years old, there is something undeniable about the movie’s ability to entertain, delight and terrify an audience.
—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
The old him would have been terrified of going onstage, a public humiliation waiting to happen.
—
Sophie Lindberg,
Kansas City Star,
3 July 2026
Should Hentges have chosen unemployment instead of a contract because the Giants play in San Francisco and their organization is terrified of people like Slusser?
—
Ian Miller Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrify
Cite this Entry
“Terrify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrify. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
terrify
verb
ter·ri·fy
ˈter-ə-ˌfī
terrified; terrifying
: to fill with terror
terrifyingly
adverb
-ˌfī-iŋ-lē
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