terrify
verb (used with object)
to fill with terror or alarm; make greatly afraid.
terrifies
-
present tense formof terrify (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
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.
The Sublime, Edmund Burke wrote in 1757, terrifies in darkness, but when its effects are managed and ordered, we call them beauty.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 2026
“You’re walking into a very, very conflictual relationship with the U.S.—and that terrifies me. But I’m not sure if there’s any way around it. Aren’t we actually already there?”
From Slate ● Feb. 13, 2026
"If there is a flood warning and our dogs are in the house it terrifies us because we both travel over an hour to and from work," she said.
From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2026
As Sailor settles into her new job on Alcatraz, she begins to shake things up, which both thrills and terrifies Camille, who has always kept her head down and followed the rules.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2025
It speeds my pulse and terrifies me, and I look at the painting of Tariq, and it's such a good likeness that I feel as if I'm really looking at him.
From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon
