horror

noun

ˈhȯr-ər How to pronounce horror (audio)
Definition of horrornext
1
as in dreadfulness
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay it's difficult to even begin to comprehend the horror of the Holocaust

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2
as in nightmare
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness had never experienced the horrors of war

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3
as in mess
something unpleasant to look at are you really going to hang that horror on the wall?

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4
as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger imagine my horror at finding myself face to face with a lion on the loose

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5
as in disgust
a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness cat lover or no, she regards cleaning the litter box with horror

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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 horror The movie has since earned a 94% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes and enjoyed the rare feat of increasing its domestic box office during its second weekend, bucking the typical trend for horror releases. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 30 June 2026 Well, those two examples are before movie theaters were in crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the horror movies were looked at as a foundational part of what has kept theater-going alive. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 30 June 2026 Curry Barker’s Obsession, starring Inde Navarrette and Michael Johnston, is new on digital streaming as the blockbuster horror thriller keeps racking up big ticket sales at the box office worldwide. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Netflix is releasing a new game show, one that combines the popularity of Squid Game, the timeless charms of the live-action Wonka experience, and the unwanted ubiquity of technofascist horrors beyond our comprehension. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for horror
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horror
  1. atrocity
  2. nightmare
  3. mess
  4. fear
  5. disgust
  6. awfulness
  7. agony
  8. fright
Noun
  • The respected 13th-century Spanish rabbi Nachmanides (Ramban) chastises Lot for the atrocity of offering his daughters in place of the angels.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
  • While younger generations were taught in school about the atrocities of the Holocaust, the book found that family lore continued to sanitize the past with grandparents often painted as heroes, rescuers or victims themselves.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 28 June 2026
Definition of atrocity
Noun
  • Now imagine all their parents having nightmares that this was their university experience.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • From dream home to disaster But faster than a rushing river, that dream became a nightmare when disastrous flooding hit Kerr County last summer.
    — Bo Evans, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of nightmare
Noun
  • The coach inherited a mess and wiped the slate clean with 40-plus transfers.
    — Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • Melting suet turns rancid fast and creates a mess of bird plumage.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Definition of mess
Noun
  • Bell also spoke of the importance of prioritizing communication in their relationship — especially during moments of fear or insecurity.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • Our country right now is mired in a level of bullying and intolerance that, for some, might feed their fears, but won’t feed their family.
    — Dawn M. Turner, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of fear
Noun
  • Most fishermen confine their angling to early morning and late evening, and the pike fishermen of early spring have given up in disgust.
    — Jack G. Mell, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026
  • Mbappé hit a post in the 32nd minute, raising both hands in disgust, and France nearly went ahead four minutes later on Olise's spectacular bicycle kick from just inside the penalty area, which also clanked off a post.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of disgust
Noun
  • In a world so full of dread and awfulness, why not take a moment to read anonymous petty literary gossip on the internet?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The relative excitement around the Rockies having arrived in San Diego at 6-6 is a reaction based on their relative awfulness.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of awfulness
Noun
  • Rojas said the earthquakes have caused agony for Venezuelan players, even those who didn’t lose family or friends.
    — Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2026
  • There were the two calls in September, one about a detainee who lay on the floor holding his stomach in agony and unable to speak after swallowing an unknown object.
    — Perla Trevizo, ProPublica, 3 July 2026
Definition of agony
Noun
  • Both O’Flynn and Rhys have had spotlight episodes so far this season, but will Emmys voters see the pathos and creativity behind the laughs and frights?
    — William Earl, Variety, 11 June 2026
  • Copyright 2025, all frights reserved.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Definition of fright

Browse Nearby Words

horrifying
horror
horrors
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Cite this Entry

“Horror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horror. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of horror for Spanish Speakers

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