terrify
verb (used with object)
to fill with terror or alarm; make greatly afraid.
had been terrifying
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past perfect progressiveof terrify.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In his witness statement, he said the papers' coverage of their relationship had been "terrifying" and left him "really worried something bad was going to happen".
From BBC ● Jan. 21, 2026
Chloe Morrison a spokeswoman for the World Vision aid group, said the storm had been terrifying.
From Newsweek ● Mar. 14, 2015
To Andrew, his father's conviction had been "terrifying."
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 20, 2014
I asked him if the experience had been terrifying.
From The New Yorker ● Nov. 24, 2014
It had been terrifying work, this probing of places.
From Years of Plenty by Brown, Ivor
