as in to frighten
to strike with fear
thunderstorms terrorize our cats, who all scamper downstairs when lightning flashes
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Recent Examples of terrorize
All that, perhaps, to turn the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder into a potentially dynastic force that could terrorize the NBA for years with its young roster built in part on the Clippers’ contributions?
—
Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
Federal intervention fuels debate Despite the general drop in crime this year in Chicago, many residents still feel terrorized.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz and Patricia Velasquez star in the film, where a haunted spirit, the La Llorona (Marisol Ramirez), with a tragic past terrorizes a family in 1970s Los Angeles.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Here's what really happened, including who was secretly terrorizing Lauryn and Owen.
—EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrorize
Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
Federal intervention fuels debate Despite the general drop in crime this year in Chicago, many residents still feel terrorized.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz and Patricia Velasquez star in the film, where a haunted spirit, the La Llorona (Marisol Ramirez), with a tragic past terrorizes a family in 1970s Los Angeles.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Here's what really happened, including who was secretly terrorizing Lauryn and Owen.
—EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrorize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorize
Verb
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Judy Hernandez’ husband Raul, a co-founder of the community group the Resurrection Project, dismissed those plans as a political stunt geared to create fear and frighten Spanish-speaking people.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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Many of us are conditioned to think that our ultimate goal in life is to be with someone, so much so, that the mere thought of being alone frightens us.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Yet, at the same time, automation scares people.—
Arthur Azizov,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Parents, scared by the specter of brain damage, are reluctant to let their kids play tackle football.—
Seth Wickersham,
The Atlantic,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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All of this terrified his father, Charlie, a former cop who had a premonition that something would go wrong.—
Seth Wickersham,
The Atlantic,
8 Sep. 2025
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Lewis, the five-star recruit and the people’s choice, looked good handing off and terrified on obvious passing downs.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Then the Buckel brothers arrived, intent on doing the same, and Smith was startled.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
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Another Epstein accuser looked up, startled, to see where the deafening sound was coming from.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terrorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorize. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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