HORRIFYING Synonyms: 152 Similar and Opposite Words

horrifying 1 of 2

adjective

as in terrifying

causing fear couldn't sleep after reading a horrifying tale of evil a horrifying scream brought people running from all directions to see what was wrong

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in gruesome

extremely disturbing or repellent the horrifying sight of a rat running through the restaurant's kitchen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

horrifying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of horrify

as in frightening

to strike with fear the old black-and-white psychological thriller still horrifies audiences

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of horrifying

Adjective

Finding a place where the familiar and the horrifying meet has always been a sweet spot for Kelly. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 IndieWire exclusively releases the video, which sees the two directors discussing everything from post-production workflows to the horrifying experience of being a young person in a world that often feels brutally unstable. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026 As horrifying as this might sound, remember that the Romans didn’t know about germs. — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026 Video captured by security cameras perched on the mountainside show the horrifying moment when the wall of mud descended on the Gyirong Port facility, swallowing the six-story building whole as dozens of people run for their lives. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 26 Aug. 2026 Violent attacks by Israeli settlers have accelerated across the West Bank in recent weeks, adding to what has already been a horrifying year for Palestinian communities in the territory. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 Equal parts emotional, horrifying and humorous, Pagans unearths all our darkest thoughts about family. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026 Soon, the horrifying virus is everywhere, and resulting scarcities of water, food, and medicine cause panic, which leads to false conspiracy theories, riots, and an utter collapse of social trust. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026 Soon, Martinez was talking to police at the scene of the crash, and the horrifying reality of Camera’s death began to set in. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026

Verb

The complications are horrifying doctors. — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 24 June 2026 Following her rescue, horrifying details of what happened to Jaycee began to emerge. — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026 In the years since Boogie Nights, Leo has made an unlikely hit out of The Man in the Iron Mask, then took the role of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, showing off his range and turning that surreal and often horrifying movie into another $100 million feather in his cap. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026 The visage, created by Universal Studio’s then-lead makeup artist Jack Pierce for the 1931 film, was horrifying enough that its influence endured for almost 100 years. — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025 No special effects were required to trigger Curry's stark drift from amiability to horrifying emptiness. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025 Television cameras captured the ensuing violence, horrifying much of the nation. — Time, 12 Sep. 2025 The grisly murder stayed a local story until horrifying CCTV footage of the incident started making the rounds on social media last weekend. — Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025 Mainstream Israeli media has increasingly spotlighted the dire starvation crisis in Gaza after months of Israel’s near-total aid blockade, horrifying some Israelis and triggering protests. — Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrifying

Adjective

Equally jubilant and terrifying, his size brings both John and Jim Ross to this mythic quality.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026
He is described as a terrifying figure but also one who is learned and devoted to Shiva.

— Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of terrifying

Adjective

In 1987, the United Klans of America was ordered to pay $7 million for the gruesome 1981 murder of Michael Donald, a Black teenager whose body was found hanging from a tree in Mobile, Alabama.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Her credits include Obi-Wan, Rebel Moon and The Orville, as well as the gruesome culinary creations of Grotesquerie and drinkable blood for American Horror Story.

— Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of gruesome

Verb

Powell tried to open the stall door, and then began fondling himself, frightening the 11-year-old, who tried to leave, but Powell blocked him from getting out.

— Todd Feurer, CBS News, 6 June 2026
This war has been a disaster for them, frightening away foreign investors, tourists and talent and burdening them with a future of huge new defense bills to deter Iran after the United States is gone.

— Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 15 May 2026

Definition of frightening

Adjective

Anne Hathaway is a leftist, woke, horrible choice for DAYS OF THUNDER NASCAR audience who are MAGA.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
These two rubber bands in our throat are affected by everything from hormones to psychology to a bad day to a horrible night’s sleep to the sniffles or whatever.

— Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of horrible

Adjective

In front of adoring fans in Shanghai, the UFC veteran and perennial contender in the UFC bantamweight division scored a shocking upset win over Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event on Saturday.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The August nonfarm payrolls report that releases Friday will be coming off a low set of expectations, given the shocking loss of jobs in July.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of shocking

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horrifying

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Style

“Horrifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrifying. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of horrifying

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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