as in agony
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness
that 20-page exam was a nightmare
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent
survivors of a nuclear holocaust would surely face a nightmare existence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of nightmare
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025
Fact checked by Sarah Scott Words that have been used to describe the out-of-control wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area include devastating, apocalyptic, and nightmare, just to name a few.
—Sari Hitchins, Parents, 9 Jan. 2025
These children learn how to relay their nightmare experiences (parents writing their family names on body parts in case bombs separate limbs) through art.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
What public safety and liability nightmares will ensue when GM, Tesla, or another automaker sell fully autonomous driving to anyone that wants it?
—Richard Bishop, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for nightmare 
Noun
Following some idle chat with bartender Callie (Kelly Lynn Reiter), Frank simply retires to his room, where he’ll be plagued as usual by combat nightmares.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025
Fact checked by Sarah Scott Words that have been used to describe the out-of-control wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area include devastating, apocalyptic, and nightmare, just to name a few.
—Sari Hitchins, Parents, 9 Jan. 2025
These children learn how to relay their nightmare experiences (parents writing their family names on body parts in case bombs separate limbs) through art.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
What public safety and liability nightmares will ensue when GM, Tesla, or another automaker sell fully autonomous driving to anyone that wants it?
—Richard Bishop, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for nightmare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nightmare
Noun
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Every muscle is in pure agony, but the show must go on.Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2025
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Passion, poignancy, ecstasy, agony and a Tic Tac ad Best game Everton 2-0 Liverpool, of course.Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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One measure passed also looks for long-term recovery plans, referring to work from Santa Rosa and Maui, which have also experienced similar horrific tragedies recently.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
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And like the residents of the City of Angels, they are effected by the horrific fires which have suddenly engulfed the area.Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Middleton put the possession out of its misery with what turned into a decent look on an off-the-bounce midrange jumper, but the entire possession lacked purpose.Eric Nehm, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
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Carter’s true legacy is one of economic misery at home and embarrassment on the world stage.Philip Klein, National Review, 29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Ten people were murdered in the New York City subway system last year — including the recent, random and gruesome immolation of a homeless New Jersey woman asleep on a Brooklyn train — up from five murders in 2023.Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2025
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Did Hawthorne base these characters on the Rev. Ephraim Avery and his young congregant Sarah Maria Cornell, whose gruesome death in 1832 in Fall River, 50 miles south of Boston, shocked all of New England?Liesl Schillinger, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The series, which stars Kaitlyn Dever, is slick and stylized, and illuminates the depravity of its scammer story as well as the horrors young women face in the health care system.Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2025
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Overwhelmed by the horrors of war, Frankie experiences the bonds and betrayals of combat.Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In fact, the difference is actually pretty shocking.Kleigh Balugo, StyleCaster, 10 Jan. 2025
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On Monday, in a shocking move, Disney announced a deal to merge its Hulu + Live TV service with competitor Fubo.Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The torture the men experienced at the hands of CIA operatives has made some evidence against them inadmissible in court.Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
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Men are scalped, women are executed, and kids are hurt bad enough for their ensuing recovery to be seen as torture.Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Given this area’s rich history with horrible weather and big events at this time of year, there is still a chance that the Cotton Bowl will be postponed until Saturday.Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2025
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How horrible for my sweet little nephews to watch their house disappear like this.Becca Longmire, People.com, 8 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near nightmare
Cite this Entry
“Nightmare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nightmare. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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