a terrifying question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a terrifying question" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a question that evokes fear, anxiety, or discomfort. Example: "The interviewer asked a terrifying question that made me doubt my qualifications for the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But have I peaked yet?" After she dropped one set in the two weeks at Roland Garros, that is a terrifying question for the rest of the women's tour to ponder.

The New York Times - Sports

Walter Weiss, the legendary maître d'hôtel at the "21" Club, who juggled tycoons, movie stars and politicians to answer a terrifying question -- who gets the best table and who goes to Siberia? -- died on Saturday in White Plains.

The New York Times

It was the time when adults were asking me a terrifying question: "What are you going to be?" or, in another version, "What are you going to do with your life?" The implication was that I was not yet anything and that, unless something happened quickly, my life would come to naught.

The New York Times

Today we will try to answer a terrifying question: How can we fill all those pages?

The New York Times

In retrospect, the sixties come off as a glorious moment of innovative French filmmaking, but the New Wave directors all faced varieties of deep trouble, many of which come to the fore in "Contempt," where Godard poses a terrifying question: What the hell is an intellectual doing in the movie business and why in the world does he think he can survive it?

The New Yorker

With its scaling problems seemingly now solved and with enough funding in the bank to buy a small European country, Twitter finally gained the flexibility to address a terrifying question: What's next?

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The angelic consciousness was suddenly overtaken with the terrifying question, "What are angels?" Author discusses several writers' views on angels, but admits that the curiosity of writing about angels is that, very often, one turns out to be writing about men.

The New Yorker

Nyan and his collaborators have been running experiments trying to answer this terrifying question about American voters: Do facts matter?

Huffington Post

In the play, Malcolm Raphelson (played by Donald Sutherland), a bitter 72-year-old figurative painter, must confront terrifying questions about his own motives and talents when he finds himself in vogue, several decades after being thrust into obscurity by the Abstract Expressionists.

The New York Times

His art placidly and calmly asks terrifying questions about the solid things we take for granted.

The Guardian - Arts

The discovery raised terrifying questions about why the authorities had failed to find it all this time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a terrifying question" when you want to emphasize the fear, anxiety, or discomfort caused by a particular question. It is especially effective when the question challenges assumptions or reveals uncomfortable truths.

Common error

While impactful, avoid overuse. Too frequent use of "a terrifying question" can diminish its effect. Consider alternative phrasings like "a daunting inquiry" or "a disturbing question" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a terrifying question" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "terrifying" modifies the noun "question". It serves to describe the nature of the question, emphasizing its capacity to induce fear or anxiety. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a terrifying question" effectively communicates the fear or anxiety induced by a particular inquiry. Grammatically sound and versatile, it's used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While it's acceptable in both formal and informal settings, be mindful of overuse. Consider alternatives like "a daunting question" or "a disturbing question" to maintain reader engagement. The term is suitable for expressing questions that provoke significant unease or challenge established norms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a frightening inquiry

Replaces "terrifying" with "frightening", keeping the meaning almost identical but with a slight shift in intensity.

a daunting question

Substitutes "terrifying" with "daunting", focusing on the intimidating nature of the question.

a chilling question

Uses "chilling" instead of "terrifying", emphasizing the fear or dread the question induces.

an alarming question

Replaces "terrifying" with "alarming", highlighting the potential danger or concern the question raises.

a disturbing question

Swaps "terrifying" for "disturbing", focusing on the unsettling or troubling nature of the question.

a horrifying question

Employs "horrifying" instead of "terrifying", amplifying the intensity of fear associated with the question.

a petrifying question

Replaces "terrifying" with "petrifying", suggesting the question causes extreme fear or paralysis.

a nerve-wracking question

Substitutes "terrifying" with "nerve-wracking", emphasizing the anxiety and stress the question provokes.

a panic-inducing question

Uses "panic-inducing" instead of "terrifying", highlighting the intense anxiety the question can trigger.

a worrisome question

Replaces "terrifying" with "worrisome", shifting the focus to the anxiety and concern caused by the question.

FAQs

How can I use "a terrifying question" in a sentence?

You can use "a terrifying question" to describe a question that evokes feelings of fear, anxiety, or dread. For example: "The interviewer asked "a terrifying question" about my career goals, which made me very nervous."

What can I say instead of "a terrifying question"?

You can use alternatives like "a frightening inquiry", "a daunting question", or "a disturbing question" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it okay to use "a terrifying question" in formal writing?

Yes, "a terrifying question" is appropriate for formal writing, but consider the context. If you want to maintain a more neutral tone, alternatives like "a challenging question" or "a difficult question" might be more suitable.

What makes a question "terrifying"?

A question becomes "terrifying" when it confronts individuals with uncomfortable truths, exposes vulnerabilities, or challenges their deeply held beliefs. The fear stems from the potential consequences or realizations that the answer might bring.