as in terrified
filled with fear or dread
I stood there, aghast, as the vile monster made its way toward me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of aghast
The internet was just as aghast as Segura and Kreischer as clips of people recreating the Dazed and Confused actor’s recipe but his wife of 12 years backed up her husband.
—
Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 26 Nov. 2024
Most were aghast at Brooks’s assault upon Sumner, while some others cheered his action.
—Blake D. Morant, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Playing the 81-year-old president as aghast, confused, and inarticulate could easily amount to an unkind impersonation, but in Carvey’s masterful hands, there is zero heightening — only dead-on accuracy.
—Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024
Emily is aghast that Sylvie even has an appetite after her betrayal.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for aghast 
Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 26 Nov. 2024
Most were aghast at Brooks’s assault upon Sumner, while some others cheered his action.
—Blake D. Morant, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Playing the 81-year-old president as aghast, confused, and inarticulate could easily amount to an unkind impersonation, but in Carvey’s masterful hands, there is zero heightening — only dead-on accuracy.
—Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024
Emily is aghast that Sylvie even has an appetite after her betrayal.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for aghast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aghast
Adjective
-
Democrats and Republicans are afraid that their civil rights and their civil liberties are in jeopardy and look to the courts to protect their 14th and 15th Amendment rights.—
John Yoo and John Shu,
Newsweek,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Just look at the Salem Witch Trials, which targeted people who weren’t afraid to live somewhat unconventional lives, like women who were financially-independent or unmarried.—
Roya Backlund,
StyleCaster,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Growers reported a drop in workers showing up to their jobs, and advocacy groups saw a surge of frightened families show up to legal workshops on how to protect themselves against deportation.—
Rachel Uranga,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2025
-
When Julia arrived with a can of cat food, the first kitten had already been adopted, but the second—a frightened and feisty tabby—was still there.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Everyone in the audience laughed when the capybara first appeared onscreen, even the little kid behind us who had cried earlier, scared of some of the calamities befalling the feline hero.—
Gary Shteyngart,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
-
One day, the story goes, the villagers discovered Nian was scared of loud noises, fire and the color red.—
Stephanie Lam,
The Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Many fans online seemed shocked and bewildered by her post asking for another natural disaster.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Bryan Kirkwood, a security guard hired to protect homes from looters, was shocked to see the home torn apart.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
While that’s what his voters bought, institutions are pushing back mightily, in some cases with the backing of an alarmed public.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
29 Jan. 2025
-
His innie shares a vast, mostly empty office with three colleagues: the paternal old-timer Irving (John Turturro), the faux curmudgeon Dylan (Zach Cherry), and the alarmed newbie Helly (Britt Lower).—
Inkoo Kang,
The New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near aghast
Cite this Entry
“Aghast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aghast. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share