horrifying 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of horrifyingnext
1
as in terrifying
causing fear couldn't sleep after reading a horrifying tale of evil a horrifying scream brought people running from all directions to see what was wrong

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent the horrifying sight of a rat running through the restaurant's kitchen

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

horrifying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of horrify
as in frightening
to strike with fear the old black-and-white psychological thriller still horrifies audiences

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrifying
  1. terrifying
  2. gruesome
  3. frightening
  4. horrific
  5. scary
  6. shocking
  7. horrible
  8. formidable
Adjective
  • Winters — who was so terrifying in Heroes of the Fourth Turning and who revealed a messy vulnerability behind Kerry Castellabate’s hard bangs and structured suits on Succession — is a pro at tough, slick surfaces with tangles of insecurity underneath.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Perusing the store’s shelves, there’s the usual lineup of Route 66 merch alongside a host of shirts bearing new and terrifying puns.
    Dan Sheehan, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Definition of terrifying
Adjective
  • One popular, gruesome theory has it that a truck ran her over and then sped away, but what happened for sure, no one can tell.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Before his gruesome leg injury, the 24-year-old pass-rusher was on pace to secure an NFL Defensive Player of the Year trophy.
    Jesse Reed, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Definition of gruesome
Adjective
  • For example, people often dodge screenings and diagnostic tests to avoid the frightening possibility of discovering cancer.
    Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Demi Moore is sharing scary photos of a frightening side of her character in the body horror movie The Substance.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • Goldberg's words come over a year after The View began an unrelenting battle with gaseous entities, following a horrific water spillage (and mysterious fart noise of unknown origin) that plagued the Hot Topics table in January 2023.
    EW.com, EW.com, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Travis and Jason are clearly very close with one another, and the fan that hurled such a horrific thing led to Jason reacting in a very angry manner.
    James Brizuela, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Definition of horrific
Adjective
  • Remember to ask questions to get a clear understanding of your partners’ personal views, and try your best not to shy away from the scarier aspects of the discussions—such as death or afterlife.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Beyoncé knows what the real scariest day of the year is.
    Michael Savio, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of scary
Adjective
  • The couple’s happy news comes months after more shocking relationship reports.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
  • During the Halloween Nightmares episode last week, there was a shocking elimination after a fan-favorite couple went home despite winning their dance-off and receiving a high score.
    Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
Definition of shocking
Adjective
  • Give Back To Maui After the horrible 2023 wildfires in Maui, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua reopened on October 8, 2023, and it’s been going strong and welcoming guests with open arms since then.
    Robin Raven, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
  • This is also a great matchup against a horrible Jaguars passing defense.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • While Malloy's candidacy represents a clear challenge to Sanders' decades-long dominance in Vermont politics, the senator's enduring popularity and political influence remain formidable.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Saudi Arabia and the UAE could collaborate, turning the Gulf region into a formidable hydrogen production and export hub.
    Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Definition of formidable
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near horrifying

horrify

horrifying

horror

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Cite this Entry

“Horrifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrifying. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on horrifying

Nglish: Translation of horrifying for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of horrifying for Arabic Speakers

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