horror

noun

ˈhȯr-ər How to pronounce horror (audio)
Definition of horrornext
1
as in dreadfulness
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay it's difficult to even begin to comprehend the horror of the Holocaust

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2
as in nightmare
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness had never experienced the horrors of war

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3
as in mess
something unpleasant to look at are you really going to hang that horror on the wall?

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4
as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger imagine my horror at finding myself face to face with a lion on the loose

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5
as in disgust
a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness cat lover or no, she regards cleaning the litter box with horror

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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 horror But in between the jump scares and supernatural horrors is a story of motherhood and confronting the past. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 Neon hasn’t done a ton of platform releases of late, even with some of its horror titles. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026 Now an adult, the actress had a guest role on The Secret Life of the American Teenager and appeared in the 2013 horror films Nightcomer, Beneath, and Ghost Shark. — Dustin Nelson, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026 Cinespia, Los Angeles’ iconic outdoor cinematic experience, has unveiled its spooky lineup for the month of October, where horror fans will be able to watch some of their favorite cult films among the dead at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for horror
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horror
  1. atrocity
  2. nightmare
  3. mess
  4. fear
  5. disgust
  6. awfulness
  7. agony
  8. fright
Noun
  • Emergency Lawyers, an independent group documenting atrocities in Sudan, said a drone targeted a group of civilians traveling Thursday in the desert town of Sowdari in North Korodofan state.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • These images laid the foundation and the ideology for every atrocity that has been committed against my people.
    — Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of atrocity
Noun
  • An episode of septicemia, with its hells and paradises, its nightmares and hallucinations, transforms Borges into a story writer.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Of all the nightmare scenarios running, none of them involved the concept of ‘rest defence’.
    — Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of nightmare
Noun
  • The defense was organized and rebounded well from some early breakdowns on stretch running plays, and Petrino’s offense doesn’t look like the mess Freddie Kitchens’ group was last year.
    — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • In another drawing, a Cubist mess of igloos and sandcastles lay in a heap.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of mess
Noun
  • As families wait for news about their relatives, damaged roads, power outages and fears of further flooding have hampered rescue efforts.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The announcement is spurring fears of a fresh wave of Canadian travelers steering clear of the US.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of fear
Noun
  • Vicki could barely hide her disgust that Luann’s antics get more respect than her insurance business.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Political radicals have found purchase in Democratic primaries in part because of disgust with our present system of capitalist greed, self-dealing and multi-card monte with all cards in the president du jour’s hands.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of disgust
Noun
  • In a world so full of dread and awfulness, why not take a moment to read anonymous petty literary gossip on the internet?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The relative excitement around the Rockies having arrived in San Diego at 6-6 is a reaction based on their relative awfulness.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of awfulness
Noun
  • Bugs Bunny jams himself against the edge and grits his teeth in agony.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The striking bronze sculpture depicts an outstretched arm reaching to the sky as hundreds of small human figures cling to it and each other with expressions of agony.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of agony
Noun
  • In the movie, a group of teens accidentally release a bunch of monsters from Stine’s book collection, creating complete havoc and plenty of great family-friendly frights.
    — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
  • And some of the film’s most impressive frights take place in the dentist’s chair, veering into serious body-horror territory.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of fright

Browse Nearby Words

horrifying
horror
horrors
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Cite this Entry

“Horror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horror. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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