night terror
noun
: a sudden awakening in dazed terror that occurs in children during slow-wave sleep, is often preceded by a sudden shrill cry uttered in sleep, and is not remembered when the child awakes
—usually used in plural
Examples of night terror in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
He is haunted by visions and night terrors involving Anne and his late mentor, Cardinal Wolsey (Jonathan Pryce), who was executed by King Henry’s orders in the first season.
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Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 Mar. 2025
Watching Severance’s title sequence is like being swaddled by a night terror — in a good way.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2025
The prosecution also played a video showing photographs of Ammen and Spiridon with their daughters after their aunt and uncle, who now care for them, shared that one of the twins now experiences intense night terrors.
—Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025
Children who get enough restful sleep are less likely to experience night terrors.
—Arielle Tschinkel, Parents, 12 Feb. 2025
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Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 Mar. 2025
Watching Severance’s title sequence is like being swaddled by a night terror — in a good way.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2025
The prosecution also played a video showing photographs of Ammen and Spiridon with their daughters after their aunt and uncle, who now care for them, shared that one of the twins now experiences intense night terrors.
—Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025
Children who get enough restful sleep are less likely to experience night terrors.
—Arielle Tschinkel, Parents, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for night terror
Cite this Entry
“Night terror.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/night%20terror. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
night terror
noun
night ter·ror
-ˈter-ər 
: a sudden awakening in dazed terror that occurs in children during slow-wave sleep, is often preceded by a sudden shrill cry uttered in sleep, and is not remembered when the child awakes
—usually used in plural
called also pavor nocturnus
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