terror

[ ter-er ]

noun

1. intense, sharp, overmastering fear:

   to be frantic with terror.

   Synonyms: consternation, dismay, alarm

   Antonyms: calm

2. an instance or cause of intense fear or anxiety; quality of causing terror:

   to be a terror to evildoers.

3. any period of frightful violence or bloodshed likened to the Reign of Terror in France.
4. violence or threats of violence used for intimidation or coercion; terrorism.
5. Informal. a person or thing that is especially annoying or unpleasant.

terror

/ ˈtɛrə /

noun

1. great fear, panic, or dread
2. a person or thing that inspires great dread
3. informal.
   a troublesome person or thing, esp a child
4. terrorism

Derived Forms

• ˈterrorful, adjective
• ˈterrorless, adjective

Other Words From

• terror·ful adjective
• terror·less adjective
• counter·terror noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of terror¹

First recorded in 1325–75; from Latin, equivalent to terrēre “to frighten” + -or -or ¹; replacing Middle English terrour, from Anglo-French, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of terror¹

C14: from Old French terreur, from Latin terror, from terrēre to frighten; related to Greek trein to run away in terror

Idioms and Phrases

see holy terror .

Synonym Study

Terror, horror, panic, fright all imply extreme fear in the presence of danger or evil. Terror implies an intense fear that is somewhat prolonged and may refer to imagined or future dangers: frozen with terror. Horror implies a sense of shock at a danger that is also evil, and the danger may be to others rather than to oneself: to recoil in horror. Panic and fright both imply a sudden shock of fear. Fright is usually of short duration: a spasm of fright. Panic is uncontrolled and unreasoning fear, often groundless, that may be prolonged: The mob was in a panic.

Example Sentences

When asked if the terror plot had an impact on the company’s recent spate of surprising policy changes, Facebook did not provide a direct response.

From TechCrunch

On the other hand, the levels of fear are increasing due to the social effects and the messages of terror that this type of violence instills in the entire community.

From Washington Blade

I tried to determine the relationship between politicians using hate speech and the number of domestic terror attacks the country experienced the following year.

From No Straight News

It’s been almost three months since an independent group of United Nations experts called on the US government to conduct an independent investigation into racial terror.

From MIT Technology Review

Deep cultural memory entangles wolves and wilderness in all their terror and majesty.

From Science News

And that is an awful lot less bloody than what happened during the Reign of Terror.

From The Daily Beast

The Sputnik shapes seem like a nod to Cold War surveillance morphing into Age of Terror surveillance.

From The Daily Beast

Yet his liberal voice was too often silenced on War on Terror issues.

From The Daily Beast

“They should go and join [the] Anti-Terror Operation,” she said.

From The Daily Beast

Oddly enough, it was initially conceived as a weapon for the Global War on Terror.

From The Daily Beast

Terror drives you on; fate coerces you; you can't help yourself, and my delight is to make the plunge terrible.

From Project Gutenberg

Terror and fascination caught him; he turned away lest she should reach his secret and communicate her own.

From Project Gutenberg

But France had had enough of the Terror, and knew that she could evolve her safety by other means than that of the guillotine.

From Project Gutenberg

Before very long the prisoners knew that, in spite of the Terror, some powerful hand was extended over them.

From Project Gutenberg

Terror has been and always will be the most certain means of corrupting and enslaving the mind of man.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anxiety
• awe
• dread
• horror
• intimidation
• panic
• shock