terrifying

adjective

ter·​ri·​fy·​ing ˈter-ə-ˌfī-iŋ How to pronounce terrifying (audio)
ˈte-rə-
1
: causing terror or apprehension
2
: of a formidable nature
terrifyingly adverb

Examples of terrifying in a Sentence

The thought of dying alone was terrifying. heard a terrifying noise coming from the next room
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The stability and flexibility around Josh Allen makes for a terrifying formula. Derrik Klassen, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025 What’s more terrifying than losing control of your physical and mental self as your most primal, animalistic instincts take the wheel? David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2025 Basically, each night the characters are killed by some new terrifying threat—in what sounds like a film that will bounce around various horror movie genres—and each new day they are brought back to life to try again. Erik Kain, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 During that terrifying first year of tyranny, Mon Mothma, Saw Gerrera, and Bail Organa face the encroaching darkness. EW.com, 14 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for terrifying 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of terrifying was circa 1586

Dictionary Entries Near terrifying

Cite this Entry

“Terrifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrifying. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on terrifying

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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