nightmare

USAGE SUMMARY

"nightmare" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe a bad dream someone has, or to describe a situation that is difficult to deal with. Example sentence: "My colleagues always ask me to do too much work, and it's become a real nightmare."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It is a nightmare".

The New York Times

What a nightmare!" There had been delays involving Clapham Junction earlier in the rush hour due to a lineside fire which caused hold-ups to services on London Overground.

The Guardian

The nymph's extendable mouth parts, housed behind serrated jaws, are the stuff of a science-fiction nightmare, part of the inspiration for HR Giger's creature from the film Alien, a fragment from the palaeozoic era projected on to a dystopian future.

The Guardian

He also said Black Friday had been a "nightmare" because it produced a massive spike in sales that was difficult to cope with both online and in stores.

The Guardian - Business

Aged 42". Henry Kissinger was hired for a television commercial to pose as your nightmare seat-mate on a long flight.

The Guardian

Nothing has any meaning… It's a nightmare – nowhere is safe now".

The Guardian - Books

With thousands of angry refugees stranded on the desert highway, and pro-Gaddafi gunmen still resisting inside the town, Libya's government has been left flat-footed by a crisis fast turning into its worst nightmare.

The Guardian

But there's none of that with Two and a Half Men – just the same four storylines on rotation and Sheen giving the same monotonous, lifeless, straining-to-read-a-cue-card delivery to each line until all the episodes blend into a great, big, disorientating Kafkaesque nightmare.

The Guardian

"That would be a nightmare scenario for Polish foreign policy, because it would mean getting into conflicts with Germany and anti-EU stunts and aggressive rhetoric towards Russia," Kucharczyk said.

The Guardian

He said: "It reads as a nightmare catalogue of serious safety breaches aboard and alongside these nuclear-armed submarines... Shortages of all types of crew on these submarines has been well-documented and the description of personnel in extremely stressful situations must be alarming given the huge responsibility some of these sailors are given.

The Guardian

In a last-ditch attempt to frustrate the bill, Lord Harries, who chairs the Commission on Civil Society and Democratic Engagement representing more than 100 groups, warned it would be a "bureaucratic nightmare" and accused ministers of imposing a "huge regulatory burden on campaigning groups".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing dreams, consider using "nightmare" to differentiate it from a regular bad dream, implying a more intense and frightening experience.

Common error

Avoid using "nightmare" for minor inconveniences or slightly unpleasant situations. Using it inappropriately can diminish its impact when describing truly terrible experiences.

Linguistic Context

The word "nightmare" primarily functions as a noun. It commonly refers to a frightening dream or, metaphorically, to a very unpleasant or difficult experience. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "nightmare" is a versatile noun commonly used to describe both frightening dreams and terrible real-life situations. According to Ludwig AI, it's considered grammatically correct and appears frequently in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it’s important to avoid overuse in minor situations to preserve its impact. Consider alternatives like "horrific experience" or "terrible ordeal" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hellish experience

Emphasizes the extremely unpleasant and tormenting nature of the event.

horrific experience

Emphasizes the terrifying nature of the event.

terrible ordeal

Highlights the difficulty and suffering endured.

bad dream

Focuses specifically on the dream aspect, often less severe than a "nightmare".

grueling trial

Stresses the exhausting and demanding aspect.

disaster

Shares a similar meaning with 'catastrophe' but can refer to more common situations.

awful situation

A more general term for a negative circumstance.

debacle

Similar to 'fiasco' but often implies a more public and significant failure.

fiasco

Emphasizes the complete failure and often embarrassing nature of the event.

catastrophe

Highlights a large-scale disaster or misfortune.

FAQs

How can I use "nightmare" in a sentence?

You can use "nightmare" to describe a terrifying dream, as in "I had a terrible nightmare last night". It can also describe a horrible situation: "Cleaning up after the flood was a complete nightmare".

What are some synonyms for "nightmare"?

Alternatives to "nightmare" include "horrific experience", "terrible ordeal", or "hellish experience". The most fitting alternative depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "nightmare" in formal writing?

While "nightmare" is widely understood, consider the tone and audience. In highly formal contexts, a phrase like "difficult situation" or "challenging experience" might be more suitable, depending on the severity of the situation.

What is the difference between a "nightmare" and a bad dream?

A "nightmare" is generally considered a more intense and disturbing bad dream. While both are unpleasant, a "nightmare" often involves feelings of terror, suffocation, or intense anxiety.