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Synonyms

petrify

American  
[pe-truh-fahy] / ˈpɛ trəˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object)

petrified, petrifying
  1. to convert into stone or a stony substance.

  2. to benumb or paralyze with astonishment, horror, or other strong emotion.

    I was petrified with fear.

    Synonyms:
    daze, dumbfound, immobilize
  3. to make rigid or inert; harden; deaden.

    The tragedy in his life petrified his emotions.


verb (used without object)

petrified, petrifying
  1. to become petrified.

petrify British  
/ ˈpɛtrɪˌfaɪ /

verb

  1. (tr; often passive) to convert (organic material, esp plant material) into a fossilized form by impregnation with dissolved minerals so that the original appearance is preserved

  2. to make or become dull, unresponsive, insensitive, etc; deaden

  3. (tr; often passive) to stun or daze with horror, fear, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • petrifiable adjective
  • petrificant adjective
  • petrifier noun
  • unpetrifying adjective

Etymology

Origin of petrify

From the Middle French word petrifier, dating back to 1585–95. See petri-, -fy

Explanation

If you scare someone so much they can't move, you petrify them. Petrify is to make something like a stone or to literally turn to stone. At the heart of the word petrify is the Latin word petra which means "stone." In the scientific sense, wood petrifies in an environment without oxygen, say when it is buried by lava, and minerals such as silica enter the wood and fill the cells, making it hard as stone. More commonly, something petrifies a person or an animal when it scares them very much. During thunderstorms, the dog is so petrified that it hides under the bed. If you are in a store when it is being robbed, you might be petrified too.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing petrify

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.

But the department’s letter was sent days ago without public comment, and its reported warning that the lottery may be illegal isn’t likely to petrify scofflaws such as Musk and Trump.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2024

Imperfect though “Romulus” may be, it’s also a solid entry in a slate of films whose original maker has taken the extended story seriously enough to petrify it.

From Salon • Aug. 16, 2024

“But you’ve just got to stay ready whenever your opportunities come. They just come and go, so you’ve just got to stay ready for it you. Can’t really petrify yourself for the time being.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 21, 2023

This should petrify his colleagues — and the rest of the country, too.

From Washington Post • Apr. 23, 2023

“When a storm was on I thought the whole roof was going to lift off, like in The Wizard of Oz. Used to petrify me.”

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell