terrifying

adjective

ter·​ri·​fy·​ing ˈter-ə-ˌfī-iŋ 

ˈte-rə-

1

: causing terror or apprehension

2

: of a formidable nature

terrifyingly adverb

Synonyms

• alarming
• dire
• direful
• dread
• dreadful
• fearful
• fearsome
• forbidding
• formidable
• frightening
• frightful
• ghastly
• hair-raising
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrifying
• intimidating
• redoubtable
• scary
• shocking
• spine-chilling
• terrible

Examples of terrifying in a Sentence

The thought of dying alone was terrifying.

heard a terrifying noise coming from the next room

Recent Examples on the Web

By the time the Maersk Emden joined the floating queue off Long Beach bearing Mr. Walker’s shipment, people from Europe to Africa to North and South America had endured a terrifying scarcity of personal protective gear like face masks and medical gowns. —Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 2 June 2024

The visits came after a series of tornadoes on a terrifying night in December 2021 killed 81 people in Kentucky. —Bruce Schreiner, Fortune, 28 May 2024

But with its fourth (and tentatively final) season, the show is focusing on its most terrifying theme yet: raising a baby. —Devan Coggan, EW.com, 24 May 2024

For parents of children with asthma, witnessing an attack of severe symptoms can be a terrifying experience—just ask Djiby Dia. Dia, a parent living in Philadelphia, has two children with asthma. —Julia Landwehr, Health, 22 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1