totally terrified

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "totally terrified" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a strong feeling of fear or anxiety about a situation or event. Example: "When I heard the loud crash outside, I was totally terrified and didn't know what to do."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

I was totally terrified.

The Guardian

"The others are totally terrified".

The New York Times

She remembered finding out what Willowbrook was like: "I felt totally enraged, totally terrified and also totally determined to find like-minded people.

The New York Times

There are already more than enough Web sites and books and pamphlets and classes about breast cancer to keep you totally well informed (and totally terrified), but few of them are any fun.

The New York Times - Books

In the Commons, the prime minister told Mr Miliband: "What we've seen is he is totally terrified of Labour's failures in Wales on the NHS".

BBC

They are totally terrified, in awful conditions, so it will allow the humanitarian aid to reach these people," Mr Araud said.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

It's totally terrifying to me.

The Guardian - Film

I'm sort of an authority figure but also not totally terrifying.

Vice

His flow is at this point un-fuckwithable, and he can be totally terrifying when he wants to be.

Vice

Experiencing emptiness for the first time can be like jumping off a cliff in the middle of night: totally terrifying because suddenly you have absolutely nothing to hold on to.

Huffington Post

I'm glad that I was able to file away the wonderful, totally terrifying day I sat in the backseat of a brand new Camry with my newborn son, leaving the hospital dressed in the outfit it took me four weeks to pick out and almost an hour to put on him.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "totally terrified" to express a high degree of fear or anxiety, especially in situations where the emotion is overwhelming or unexpected. For instance, describing a reaction to a sudden, startling event or a deeply unsettling situation.

Common error

Avoid using "totally terrified" in contexts where a milder expression of fear or anxiety would be more appropriate. Overuse can diminish the impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic or insincere. Consider using alternatives like "very anxious" or "quite concerned" for less intense situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally terrified" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where the adverb "totally" intensifies the adjective "terrified". As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound. It serves to amplify the feeling of fear.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "totally terrified" effectively conveys a strong sense of fear, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Grammatically sound as an adverb-adjective combination, it's commonly found in news, media, and business contexts. While versatile, avoid overuse in situations requiring a less intense expression. Alternatives like "completely frightened" or "utterly petrified" can provide nuance. The examples found by Ludwig show practical applications, emphasizing its role in expressing overwhelming anxiety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely frightened

Replaces "terrified" with "frightened" and "totally" with "completely", keeping the intensity similar.

utterly petrified

Substitutes "totally" with "utterly" and "terrified" with "petrified", both conveying extreme fear.

absolutely scared stiff

Emphasizes immobility due to fear, adding a more descriptive element.

thoroughly alarmed

Uses "alarmed" to suggest a sudden and strong sense of danger, diminishing the sense of extreme fear.

genuinely afraid

Emphasizes the authenticity of the fear, softening the intensity compared to "terrified".

deeply apprehensive

Suggests a more prolonged and thoughtful worry, rather than immediate terror.

seriously spooked

Introduces a more informal and colloquial tone to express fear.

really anxious

Shifts the focus to anxiety, a related but distinct emotional state from terror.

quite intimidated

Highlights a feeling of being overwhelmed and potentially threatened.

extremely worried

Emphasizes concern and unease about potential negative outcomes.

FAQs

What does "totally terrified" mean?

The phrase "totally terrified" means to be extremely or utterly frightened. It implies a high level of fear that can be overwhelming.

How can I use "totally terrified" in a sentence?

You can use "totally terrified" to describe a strong feeling of fear. For example: "When I heard the noise in the middle of the night, I was "totally terrified"."

What are some alternatives to "totally terrified"?

Some alternatives to "totally terrified" include "completely frightened", "utterly petrified", or "absolutely scared stiff".

Is it grammatically correct to say "totally terrified"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Totally" is an adverb that modifies the adjective "terrified", making it a standard and acceptable construction.