terrorize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
terrorizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
terrorized,
past participle, past
-
terrorizing
present participle
-
to fill or overcome with terror.
-
to dominate or coerce by intimidation.
-
to produce widespread fear by acts of violence, as bombings.
verb
-
to coerce or control by violence, fear, threats, etc
-
to inspire with dread; terrify
Synonym Usage
See frighten.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
terrorizesimple
-
terrorizessimple
-
have terrorizedperfect
-
has terrorizedperfect
-
am terrorizingprogressive
-
are terrorizingprogressive
-
is terrorizingprogressive
-
have been terrorizingperfect progressive
-
has been terrorizingperfect progressive
Past
-
terrorizedsimple
-
had terrorizedperfect
-
was terrorizingprogressive
-
were terrorizingprogressive
-
had been terrorizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of terrorize
Explanation
When you terrorize someone, you act in a way that makes that person feel terrified, or full of fear. A bully might terrorize his younger victims by threatening to beat them up. There are more and less serious ways to terrorize someone: actual terrorists, who use violence to achieve political goals, are a classic example of people who terrorize. A less grim way to terrorize might be an older sister coercing a younger brother into doing her chores by threatening to hide his favorite toys. In either case, the victim experiences some degree of fear, and the person who terrorizes feels a sense of power and control.
Vocabulary lists containing terrorize
"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Schooled
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
“Our justice system was not created to terrorize people,” she said.
From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026
But these cameras can allow law enforcement to identify the criminals that terrorize communities like mine and take them off the streets so that Americans at all socioeconomic levels can flourish.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
The US president thanked the Nigerian government for their "partnership", adding that Minuki "will no longer terrorize the people of Africa or help plan operations to target Americans".
From BBC ● May 16, 2026
They initially told him they were deporting him to his home country, which he thinks was done "to terrorize us."
From Barron's ● Feb. 26, 2026
But they couldn’t terrorize Eric—because Eric was going to tell.
From "Our America: Life and Death on the South Side of Chicago" by LeAlan Jones
What doesn’t change with the times is that “It” is synonymous with its star antagonist, Pennywise, the sinister clown that terrorizes Derry.
From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2025
Oh yeah, Cakey is actually an evil cake that terrorizes the universe.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2022
Its president told The News Reporter newspaper it wouldn’t be “a part of anything that terrorizes anybody or goes against law enforcement.”
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 16, 2022
Cambage terrorizes opponents with her ability to pivot, score and pull down rebounds in the post as defenders hack at her body.
From New York Times ● Oct. 1, 2021
The bear sinks its teeth into the fish's flesh because it must; it never terrorizes a deer for a night of fun, just because it can.
From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely
She can now dine on her deck with her husband and garden without being "terrorized" by bloodsuckers.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
He terrorized defenses and scored a hat trick in the final.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
I asked if she worried that Pratt’s agenda would amount to punishing 70,000 people for the actions of a much smaller number, like the man who had terrorized her.
From Slate ● Jun. 3, 2026
Like so many of us, Good could have stayed tucked safely away in her house, looking the other way while a bunch of hastily hired wannabe warriors terrorized her neighbors.
From Salon ● Jan. 9, 2026
Justifiable fury he knew and expected when he had terrorized their pets in the old days; laughter, and sometimes nervousness—but never a crude, uncivilized reception like this.
From "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford
Now, Eatherly’s ilk gloats about verbally terrorizing American citizens going about their day-to-day lives on American streets and beams this content around the globe for money.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026
Every few decades since its founding a dark and deadly cycle begins, terrorizing the local community, many of whom are unable to survive beyond the island’s borders.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
The families of Stephen Oglivie and Henry Nowak have been resolute in demanding that these horrific attacks not be leveraged for inciting disorder—or for terrorizing the U.K.’s many immigrants.
From Slate ● Jun. 15, 2026
Videos abound of Roombas terrorizing pets, making epic messes and going AWOL.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 12, 2026
“Dvoyka and Troyka have finally decided that they aren’t satisfied with terrorizing just this village,” Ivan said.
From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack
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.
