horror

[hawr-er, hor-]

noun

1. an overwhelming and painful feeling caused by something frightfully shocking, terrifying, or revolting; a shuddering fear.

   to shrink back from a mutilated corpse in horror.

   Synonyms: consternation, dismay, dread
   Antonyms: serenity

2. anything that causes such a feeling.

   killing, looting, and other horrors of war.

3. such a feeling as a quality or condition.

   to have known the horror of slow starvation.

4. a strong aversion; abhorrence.

   to have a horror of emotional outbursts.

   Synonyms: abomination, hatred, detestation, antipathy, loathing
   Antonyms: attraction

5. Informal.,  something considered bad or tasteless.

   That wallpaper is a horror. The party was a horror.

6. Informal.,  horrors,

   1. delirium tremens.

   2. extreme depression.

adjective

1. inspiring or creating horror, loathing, aversion, etc..

   The hostages told horror stories of their year in captivity.

2. centered upon or depicting terrifying or macabre events.

   a horror movie.

interjection

1. horrors, (used as a mild expression of dismay, surprise, disappointment, etc.)

horror

/ ˈhɒrə /

noun

1. extreme fear; terror; dread

2. intense loathing; hatred

3. (often plural) a thing or person causing fear, loathing, etc

4. (modifier) having a frightening subject, esp a supernatural one

   a horror film

Word History and Origins

Origin of horror¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin horror, equivalent to horr- (stem of horrēre “to bristle with fear”; horrendous ) + -or -or ¹; replacing Middle English orrour, from Anglo-French, from Latin horrōr-, stem of horror

Word History and Origins

Origin of horror¹

C14: from Latin: a trembling with fear; compare _hirsute

Idioms and Phrases

see under throw up one's hands.

Synonym Study

See terror.

Example Sentences

It was a horror novel inspired by Sparks’ literary hero, Stephen King.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He touted the studio’s “balanced” slate with big blockbusters, films based on established intellectual property, horror movies and original works.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"The horror of that dark day will be forever seared in the memories of us all," UN Secretary General António Guterres said.

Read more on BBC

The Human Centipede is a reference to the 2009 body horror film.

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It's turning into a horror film rather than a heartwarming tale.

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Related Words

• apprehension 
• awe 
• consternation 
• disgust 
• dismay 
• dread 
• fear 
• fright 
• hatred 
• panic 
• revulsion 
• terror