terrifies

verb

present tense third-person singular of terrify
as in frightens
to strike with fear the prospect of speaking in front of a huge crowd of people absolutely terrifies me

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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 terrifies Watch On In this Canadian cult classic that doubles as a coming-of-age story, a sardonic goth transforms into a werewolf in the days leading up to Halloween and terrifies her younger sister. — David Faris, TheWeek, 22 Oct. 2026 Black Palace is set in 1888 London as an emerging tabloid media terrifies the public with lurid stories of infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper. — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026 What terrifies you about this moment and inspires you about this moment? — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 That prospect terrifies Hamid, the relief worker who survived the drone strike. — Mat Nashed, Christian Science Monitor, 21 July 2026 Frankly, the thought of being beaten by the subscribers terrifies me. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026 Aubry Bracco is the kind of player who terrifies a certain (male) demographic of Survivor alumni. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2026 What terrifies Iran’s theocrats the most, the fear that eclipses all their fears, is the ability of the people at large to clearly see the essential realities of the present regime. — Azadeh Moaveni, Time, 3 Feb. 2026 And this absolutely terrifies me. — Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrifies
  1. frightens
  2. scares
  3. startles
Verb
  • The prospect of Sean Steur or Lewis Hall — whose contract situation Wilson refused to be drawn on, despite being asked three times — leaving is not something which frightens the hierarchy.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Penelope, too, is asked to occupy a landscape that frightens her, not only as a neurodivergent child in a neurotypical culture, but as a child now situated in an adult world.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of frightens
Verb
  • Dozens of other Halloween 2026 events in Metro Detroit are listed in the CBS News Detroit treats and scares roundup.
    — Jack Springgate, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • In the most basic sense, a film in which supernatural scares arise courtesy of negative space ought to at least have thoughtful framing, but the endless series of startles arrive with the same weight and energy as the fake outs.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of scares
Verb
  • Missile warning startles Dubai Earlier on Friday, a missile warning in the United Arab Emirates caused by a technical glitch underscored the ongoing tensions in the region, following the attack on the cargo vessel and Israeli strikes in Lebanon over the past few days.
    — Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • The combination of flashing light and movement startles them.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
Definition of startles

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Cite this Entry

“Terrifies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrifies. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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