horrify

verb

hor·​ri·​fy ˈhȯr-ə-ˌfī 

ˈhär-

horrified; horrifying

transitive verb

1

: to cause to feel horror

2

: to fill with distaste : shock

horrifyingly

ˈhȯr-ə-ˌfī-iŋ-lē 

ˈhär-

adverb

Synonyms

• affright
• alarm
• alarum
• fright
• frighten
• panic
• scare
• scarify
• shock
• spook
• startle
• terrify
• terrorize

Choose the Right Synonym for horrify

dismay, appall, horrify, daunt mean to unnerve or deter by arousing fear, apprehension, or aversion.

dismay implies that one is disconcerted and at a loss as to how to deal with something.

dismayed at the size of the job

appall implies that one is faced with that which perturbs, confounds, or shocks.

I am appalled by your behavior

horrify stresses a reaction of horror or revulsion.

was horrified by such wanton cruelty

daunt suggests a cowing, disheartening, or frightening in a venture requiring courage.

a cliff that would daunt the most intrepid climber

Examples of horrify in a Sentence

The details of the crime horrified the nation.

They were horrified by the movie's violence.

Recent Examples on the Web

She was horrified by this and wanted to create a space for people to find honest and balanced information—from someone who not only worked as a cancer surgeon, but fought it too. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025

Harrison Van Buren is initially horrified upon seeing the library and kicks Tóth out of his home. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025

Advertisement In fact, Leigh is horrified when asked if the conversations or rehearsals are ever done virtually. —Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025

Even constituents who were horrified by Boebert sometimes acknowledged her charisma. —Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from horri(fic) + -fy

Note: Given the late appearance of the word, it is most likely not a borrowing from Latin horrificāre "to ruffle the surface of, frighten, terrify."

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

horrify

verb

hor·​ri·​fy ˈhȯr-ə-ˌfī 

ˈhär-

horrified; horrifying

: to cause to feel horror