horrors: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Common in informal and formal registers; "the horrors" (as a state) is informal.
Quick answer
What does “horrors” mean?
Intense feelings of fear, shock, or disgust.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Intense feelings of fear, shock, or disgust; extremely frightening or shocking experiences or events.
Can refer to a state of intense anxiety or distress (e.g., "to have the horrors"). Also used informally to describe very bad or unpleasant things (e.g., "the horrors of rush hour traffic").
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The informal phrase "to have the horrors" (meaning to be very anxious or appalled) is more common in British English. The word is otherwise used similarly in both varieties.
Connotations
Similar connotations of extreme fear or revulsion. In British informal use, it can imply a state of acute but somewhat temporary distress.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English due to the informal idiomatic use.
Grammar
How to Use “horrors” in a Sentence
witness + the + horrors + of + NPbe + haunted by + the + horrors + of + NPNP + reveal + the + true + horrors + of + NPVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “horrors” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - 'horrors' is not a verb form.
American English
- N/A - 'horrors' is not a verb form.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'horrors' is not an adverb form.
American English
- N/A - 'horrors' is not an adverb form.
adjective
British English
- N/A - 'horrors' is not an adjective form.
American English
- N/A - 'horrors' is not an adjective form.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might be used metaphorically in informal contexts (e.g., "the horrors of the quarterly report").
Academic
Common in history, literature, and social sciences to describe traumatic events (e.g., "the horrors of the totalitarian regime").
Everyday
Common for describing frightening movies, experiences, or personal anxieties.
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts except in psychology/psychiatry discussing trauma or phobias.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “horrors”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “horrors”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “horrors”
- Using a singular verb with 'horrors' when it refers to a plural concept (e.g., 'The horrors was unforgettable' - INCORRECT; 'were' is correct).
- Confusing 'horror' (uncountable emotion) with 'horrors' (countable events/experiences).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Most commonly yes, when referring to multiple frightening events or the concept itself. The singular 'horror' refers to the emotion or genre.
It's an informal British phrase meaning to feel very anxious, distressed, or revolted about something, often temporarily.
Almost never. It carries an overwhelmingly negative connotation. Ironic use is possible but marked (e.g., "the horrors of organising a surprise party").
'Atrocities' specifically refers to extremely wicked or cruel acts, often involving violence. 'Horrors' is broader, encompassing anything causing intense fear, shock, or disgust, which can include atrocities.
Intense feelings of fear, shock, or disgust.
Horrors is usually common in informal and formal registers; "the horrors" (as a state) is informal. in register.
Horrors: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒrəz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɔːrərz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “have the horrors (informal BrE)”
- “the horrors of (something)”
- “a catalogue of horrors”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HORROR movie with multiple scary S-events = HORROR-S. The 'S' adds more than one scare.
Conceptual Metaphor
FEAR IS A PHYSICAL FORCE/TORMENTOR ("The horrors overwhelmed her."), BAD EXPERIENCES ARE MONSTERS ("the horrors of poverty").
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is a common British English idiom?