horrify

[hawr-uh-fahy, hor-]

verb (used with object)

horrified, horrifying 

1. to cause to feel horror; strike with horror.

   The accident horrified us all.

2. to distress greatly; shock or dismay.

   She was horrified by the price of the house.

horrify

/ ˈhɒrɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to cause feelings of horror in; terrify; frighten

2. to dismay or shock greatly

Other Word Forms

• horrification noun
• horrifyingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of horrify¹

1785–95; < Latin horrificāre to cause horror, equivalent to horri- (combining form of horrēre to bristle with fear; horrendous ) + -ficāre -fy

Example Sentences

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he was "horrified" by the attack and said his thoughts were with those affected and the wider Jewish community.

From BBC

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he was "horrified" and thinking of the Jewish community "who will be suffering at this time".

From BBC

The home secretary said she was "horrified" by news of the attack on the holy day and that she was receiving updates from local police.

From BBC

In an interview, McOsker said he was horrified by the conditions at the Wilmington site, including narrow driving lanes, food for sale outdoors and washers and dryers connected with extension cords.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, it is an insurgency which utterly horrifies so many of them.

From BBC

Related Words

• alarm 
• daunt 
• disgust 
• dismay 
• frighten 
• intimidate 
• outrage 
• petrify 
• shake 
• shock 
• sicken 
• terrify