as in frightened
filled with fear or dread
the terrorized victims didn't know where to run during the bombing raid
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scared
to strike with fear
thunderstorms terrorize our cats, who all scamper downstairs when lightning flashes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of terrorized
Andy Rose, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
In his plea agreement, Lee admitted his role in leading the Wicked Town gang, which terrorized portions of the city’s Austin neighborhood for years.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Based on Peter Benchley's 1974 novel of the same name, follows a small beach town terrorized by a massive great white shark, leading local Police Chief Brody (Roy Scheider) a marine biologist, and a grizzled shark hunter Quint (Craig Kingsbury) to team up and track it down.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Its tale of how a great white shark terrorized a beach community led box offices for weeks in the summer of 1975.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
Victims’ relatives testified in court about being terrorized by Jones’ supporters.
—Dave Collins, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2025
On the night of May 17, a mob of about 100 teenagers terrorized the Navy Yard neighborhood a block from Nationals Park.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
On that day, Jewish families were slaughtered in their homes, children kidnapped and entire communities terrorized simply for being Jewish.
—Caren Leven, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2025
After achieving a conviction in a brutal triple homicide that had terrorized his mountain town, Sgt.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
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
In his plea agreement, Lee admitted his role in leading the Wicked Town gang, which terrorized portions of the city’s Austin neighborhood for years.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Based on Peter Benchley's 1974 novel of the same name, follows a small beach town terrorized by a massive great white shark, leading local Police Chief Brody (Roy Scheider) a marine biologist, and a grizzled shark hunter Quint (Craig Kingsbury) to team up and track it down.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Its tale of how a great white shark terrorized a beach community led box offices for weeks in the summer of 1975.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
Victims’ relatives testified in court about being terrorized by Jones’ supporters.
—Dave Collins, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2025
On the night of May 17, a mob of about 100 teenagers terrorized the Navy Yard neighborhood a block from Nationals Park.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
On that day, Jewish families were slaughtered in their homes, children kidnapped and entire communities terrorized simply for being Jewish.
—Caren Leven, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2025
After achieving a conviction in a brutal triple homicide that had terrorized his mountain town, Sgt.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorized
Adjective
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Using towels and a garden hose fitted with a piece of wood, the rescuers guided the frightened kitten through the winding pipes.—
Ronnie Li,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
When 17 children from one classroom inexplicably run out into the night, a frightened insular community starts pointing fingers at their young schoolteacher (Julia Garner) and the sole survivor, Alex (Cary Christopher).—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
His home’s security system was triggered and reportedly scared off the burglar, and nothing was stolen from the property.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Some users were scared by the object.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Ed and Lorraine are the beautiful, tragic saviors of a terrified family confronted with a deep evil, strengthened by the power of their love for each other.—
Emily Palmer Heller,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
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Parents are terrified, doctors are overwhelmed, and public confidence in our nation’s health leadership has collapsed.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
4 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
-
Another Epstein accuser looked up, startled, to see where the deafening sound was coming from.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
When people aren’t afraid to flag phishing emails, report missteps or question suspicious behavior, organizations become more adaptive and resilient.—
Aliasgar Dohadwala,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
According to new research from SoFi, 44% of students and parents feel uninformed about student loans but are probably too afraid to ask questions.—
Brian Walsh,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Hoffman can’t help but cut me off in horrified pity.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Finding the remainder, to me, is a part of long division which left me feeling rather horrified.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But when the news eventually came out, the rest of the family was shocked.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
-
In 2025, the festival also celebrated new life with the unexpected birth of a baby to shocked parents.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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His promotion of conspiracy theories claiming vaccines cause autism, linking antidepressants to school shootings and even suggesting WiFi causes cancer alarmed healthcare professionals and Democratic lawmakers.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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For Salvadorans and deportees alike, what awaits inside these prisons has alarmed advocates.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Terrorized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorized. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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