NIGHTMARE Synonyms: 116 Similar and Opposite Words

nightmare 1 of 2

noun

ˈnīt-ˌmer

Definition of nightmare

as in agony

a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness that 20-page exam was a nightmare

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nightmare

2 of 2

adjective

as in horrific

extremely disturbing or repellent survivors of a nuclear holocaust would surely face a nightmare existence

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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 nightmare

Noun

Netflix’s new sci-fi thriller The Last House begins with a simple nightmare. — Solitaire Townsend, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Facing a nightmare scenario, Middle Eastern oil producers starting using their new strategy over the past several weeks. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

Adjective

This is the nightmare scenario behind the Kessler syndrome, a cascading chain of collisions that could render entire orbital pathways unusable. — Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2026 But the 22-year-old is not alone in having a nightmare individual performance on a high-profile sporting stage. — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nightmare

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nightmare

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

But Moores would express misery in recalling ballpark-construction hassles and MLB politics that frustrated his advocacy of small-market clubs and game-day affordability.

— Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
This summer’s misery has been driven less by scorching afternoons than by record-warm nights and Miami-level humidity, according to scientist Daniel Swain.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of misery

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

Noun

After a four-year absence from British television following a horror crash involving former host Andrew Flintoff, the BBC said that work is underway on a new season.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Paranormal Activity, the play, builds to the sort of slick and grisly finale that would be just right for the end of a cruel horror movie, but that lands awkwardly onstage.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of horror

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

Noun

The lawsuit claims that Quero Silva, as the top military authority in Barquisimeto, a city in central-western Venezuela, oversaw their torture in the headquarters of the National Guard in the region.

— Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
However, Pearl Fernandez and Isauro Aguirre were ultimately responsible for the torture and murder of Gabriel and were prosecuted for that, and they were convicted of that.

— Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of torture

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

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nightly

nightmare

nightmares

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

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Synonyms of nightmare

noun

adjective

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