reign of terror

noun phrase

: a state or a period of time marked by violence often committed by those in power that produces widespread terror

Examples of reign of terror in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the targets of his reign of terror is arrogant Judge Stefan Mortensen, played by Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush admitted to the facility after being left partially paralyzed after a stroke. —Simon Thompson, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy – Limited series, also for Peacock, about the twisted life of serial killer John Wayne Gacy and exploring the grief, guilt and trauma of his victims’ friends and families and the systematic failures that fuelled his reign of terror. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2025

In the eyes of so many around the world, survivors like Umlauf's very existence is a resounding act of defiance against the world-historic cruelty and vast injustice of Adolf Hitler’s reign of terror. —NBC News, 27 Jan. 2025

None of this is being addressed by Musk's reign of terror. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Reign of Terror, a period of the French Revolution that was conspicuous for mass executions of political suspects

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for reign of terror

• bearer
• carer
• error
• fairer
• ferrer
• rarer
• sharer
• wearer
• cupbearer
• declarer
• preparer
• repairer

Kids Definition

reign of terror

: a period marked by violence that is often carried out by those in power and produces terror among the people involved