verb
-
to cause feelings of horror in; terrify; frighten
-
to dismay or shock greatly
Other Word Forms
- horrification noun
- horrifyingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of horrify
1785–95; < Latin horrificāre to cause horror, equivalent to horri- (combining form of horrēre to bristle with fear; horrendous ) + -ficāre -fy
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.
An orphan himself, Lucas is horrified by the idea that Claire will be separated from her baby.
One look at Mutti’s horrified face, and I knew this screaming for what it was, the shrieking of animals, of dying animals, and that it came from the direction of the zoo.
From Literature
There will be questions and soul-searching about these horrifying disclosures in the weeks, months and years to come.
From Los Angeles Times
Defence solicitor David Sutherland told the court on Wednesday he thought the public would be "horrified" with anything other than a custodial sentence.
From BBC
“The family was horrified and devastated by what they witnessed.”
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
