terrify

[ter-uh-fahy]

verb (used with object)

terrified, terrifying 

1. to fill with terror or alarm; make greatly afraid.

terrify

/ ˈtɛrɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to inspire fear or dread in; frighten greatly

Other Word Forms

• terrifier noun
• terrifyingly adverb
• unterrified adjective
• unterrifying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrify¹

1565–75; < Latin terrificāre, equivalent to terr ( ēre ) to frighten + -ificāre -ify

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrify¹

C16: from Latin terrificāre, from terrēre to alarm + facere to cause

Synonym Study

See frighten.

Example Sentences

“I’m terrified for my family and my daughter.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“People were terrified,” said Laura Amoedo, a retiree who helped out at a polling station in Buenos Aires province on Sunday.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The charismatic Cignetti just started last year and has already gotten a pair of hefty raises because Hoosier Nation is terrified a rich rival will swoop in to take him, most recently Penn State.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“As terrifying as it is,” he said, “I’m also proud to be living in Chicago in this time, where people have stood tall and proclaimed, ‘Not in our city.’

Read more on Salon

"I could smell him. I'll never forget the smell because he had this horrible dirty smell which was vile. I was absolutely terrified," she says.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• alarm 
• awe 
• dismay 
• frighten 
• horrify 
• intimidate 
• petrify 
• shock 
• startle 
• stun 
• terrorize