terrify
verb (used with object)
to fill with terror or alarm; make greatly afraid.
had terrified
-
past perfectof terrify.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
A 31-year-old housewife and mother-of-one who lives nearby said the incident had terrified the neighbourhood.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
When I came down, it all hit me and I saw how much the whole thing had terrified my mum, dad, and girlfriend.
From BBC ● Dec. 12, 2023
As Adam Horowitz, a lawyer for seven of the victims, told the New York Times on Wednesday, the young women were indeed scared to testify—because the prosecutors themselves had terrified them.
From Slate ● Jul. 11, 2019
Members of the anti-vaccine movement said the public backlash had terrified many parents.
From New York Times ● Jan. 30, 2015
The sudden memory shows him that his hatred is really directed at a depraved governess who had terrified him with frightening stories and left a flaw in his personality.
From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
