as in scaring
to strike with fear
thunderstorms terrorize our cats, who all scamper downstairs when lightning flashes
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Recent Examples of terrorizing
One rabid mongoose bite later, and Ben is a skull-crushing, face-ripping menace terrorizing Lucy and her friends.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
While there have been multiple iterations of the KKK, in the 1960s, Klans throughout the country were responding to the Civil Rights Movement and desegregation by terrorizing Black activists and their allies.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 30 Mar. 2026
Also his signature immigration policy, these mass deportations, has become broadly unpopular, especially after the two killings in Minneapolis and these scenes of federal agents seemingly terrorizing people.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Cartel members are terrorizing many regions by setting fire to businesses and with gunfire in public areas.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Richard Schuster, Fort Lauderdale The Sssssun Ssssentinel must stop terrorizing the good people of Florida!
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
The trailer shows that the Peaky Blinders are terrorizing England, which is in upheaval during World War II.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026
Others, such as the planting of incendiary devices in the bedding section of a Lithuanian Ikea in 2024, were aimed squarely at terrorizing civilians.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 17 Feb. 2026
Set between Seasons 2 and 3 of Stranger Things, Tales from ’85 returns viewers to Hawkins in the stark winter of 1985, where the original characters must confront new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery that is terrorizing their town.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
While there have been multiple iterations of the KKK, in the 1960s, Klans throughout the country were responding to the Civil Rights Movement and desegregation by terrorizing Black activists and their allies.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 30 Mar. 2026
Also his signature immigration policy, these mass deportations, has become broadly unpopular, especially after the two killings in Minneapolis and these scenes of federal agents seemingly terrorizing people.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Cartel members are terrorizing many regions by setting fire to businesses and with gunfire in public areas.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Richard Schuster, Fort Lauderdale The Sssssun Ssssentinel must stop terrorizing the good people of Florida!
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
The trailer shows that the Peaky Blinders are terrorizing England, which is in upheaval during World War II.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026
Others, such as the planting of incendiary devices in the bedding section of a Lithuanian Ikea in 2024, were aimed squarely at terrorizing civilians.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 17 Feb. 2026
Set between Seasons 2 and 3 of Stranger Things, Tales from ’85 returns viewers to Hawkins in the stark winter of 1985, where the original characters must confront new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery that is terrorizing their town.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrorizing
Verb
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During the first phase, last spring, before DHS got the infusion of new money, Noem led a shock-and-awe campaign aimed mostly at scaring people into leaving.—
Nick Miroff,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
-
At the time, local hunters blamed the Ping for scaring away game.—
Andrew Coletti,
Popular Science,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Clumsiness notwithstanding, bringing a criminal case against a journalist who was reporting on a protest is an authoritarian tactic—a means of frightening the press away from uncovering the truth.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
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But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The air in the room changed immediately, terrifying little Liza.—
Elisabeth Garber-Paul,
Rolling Stone,
14 Mar. 2026
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Pic was written and directed by horror filmmaker Ian Tuason, and follows the host (Nina Kiri) of a popular paranormal podcast who becomes haunted by terrifying recordings mysteriously sent her way.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrorizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrorizing. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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