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night terror

American  

noun

Psychiatry.
  1. a sudden feeling of extreme fear that awakens a sleeping person, usually during slow-wave sleep, and is not associated with a dream or nightmare.


Etymology

Origin of night terror

First recorded in 1895–1900

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.

See Examples For:

If someone is moving around, talking in their sleep or sleepwalking while appearing distressed, it’s more likely a night terror, which occurs during non-REM sleep, Schredl says.

From Scientific American Oct. 5, 2023

She told authorities she had served her husband a mixed vodka drink, Moscow Mule, in bed and then went to sleep with one of her young children who was having a night terror.

From BBC May 9, 2023

Kristen consoles the girl through a possible encounter with that week's night terror, zombies, when she asks something millions of kids have posed to their parents.

From Salon Jul. 25, 2021

And the remedies for the new night terror seem to vary as broadly as its sources.

From New York Times Oct. 30, 2020

My voice rises an octave with each word, each piece of the night terror flooding back to life.

From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles

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