terrify

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "terrify" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the act of causing someone to feel extreme fear or dread. Example: "The horror movie was designed to terrify its audience with unexpected jump scares."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When you look back, there is a sort of political genius in being able to lose the Scots and terrify the English all at the same time.

The Guardian

And while Unfriended might not reach the giddy fright heights it aims for (there's a bit too much minimising and maximising windows to fully terrify), it's a smartly constructed set of tricks.

The Guardian - Film

But he made it clear he wasn't backing down on another allegation, made in a letter to PEN earlier this week, in which he described Prose and the five other authors to have withdrawn as "the fellow travellers" of "fanatical Islam, which is highly organised, well funded, and which seeks to terrify us all, Muslims as well as non-Muslims, into a cowed silence".

The Guardian - Books

But he reckoned it would take a decade to capture a quarter of the market.That is enough to worry rather than terrify local shopkeepers.

The Economist

A fresh earthquake on a different fault line, with its epicentre off Shizuoka, near Tokyo, had a magnitude of 6.0 enough to terrify people living in most of the planet's seismic zones, if not the Japanese and did nothing to settle nerves.

The Economist

Equally, budget defeat could lead to an early election for the third time in four years.That option should terrify both the Liberals and Labour.

The Economist

That will require the rejigging of their liabilities to include new forms of debt, as well as the creation of resolution authorities with enough power to impose losses on some creditors, but not so much that they terrify counterparties into running.

The Economist

The sequester-level budget contains cuts to domestic spending so severe that they were supposed to terrify Democrats into negotiating other, more rational cuts; it also contains cuts to defence so severe that they were supposed to terrify Republicans into agreeing to some form of modest tax hikes.

The Economist

And third, they will weaken and terrify many national governments, pulling them towards more Eurosceptical policies.

The Economist

Like the entire BSE saga, it manages to bore, scandalise, disgust and terrify, all at the same time.

The Economist

And Iran's Holocaust-denying president seems hellbent on acquiring a nuclear weapon that would not just threaten Israel's existence but terrify his Arab neighbours and provoke a nuclear arms race across the region.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "terrify" to describe instances of extreme fear, where the emotional impact is significant and long-lasting. Choose it when you want to emphasize the intensity of the fear experienced.

Common error

Avoid using "terrify" when a milder term like "frighten" or "scare" would be more appropriate. Overusing "terrify" can diminish its impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The verb "terrify" functions as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts to describe the act of causing someone to experience extreme fear. Examples show it used to describe causing alarm and dread.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Encyclopedias

6%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "terrify" describes the act of causing someone to experience intense fear. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical correctness and common usage make it suitable for various writing styles. With a neutral register, "terrify" appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific sources. When using "terrify", ensure the context warrants a strong emotional impact and avoid overuse. Consider alternatives like "frighten" or "scare" for milder situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frighten

A general term for causing fear, less intense than "terrify".

scare

Similar to "frighten" but can also imply a sudden, brief moment of fear.

terrorize

Suggests a prolonged and intense period of fear-inducing actions.

petrify

Implies a state of extreme fear, almost paralyzing the person.

intimidate

Implies using fear to control someone's actions or behavior.

horrify

Focuses on causing extreme shock and disgust, often alongside fear.

alarm

Implies a sense of danger or threat, causing worry and unease.

appall

Evokes a sense of outrage and shock combined with fear or anxiety.

daunt

Suggests discouraging or deterring someone through fear of failure or difficulty.

cow

Implies subduing someone's spirit through fear or intimidation.

FAQs

How can I use "terrify" in a sentence?

Use "terrify" to describe an action that causes someone to experience intense fear. For instance, "The sudden darkness and loud noises terrified the children."

What's the difference between "terrify" and "frighten"?

"Terrify" implies a much stronger sense of fear than "frighten". To "terrify" someone suggests a deep, overwhelming fear, while to "frighten" them is to cause a lesser degree of alarm.

Is "terrify" a formal or informal word?

"Terrify" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the intensity of the fear you're describing rather than the setting.

What are some synonyms for "terrify"?

Synonyms for "terrify" include "intimidate", "terrorize", "petrify", and "horrify". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.