terrify
B2Formal, literary, and dramatic contexts. Common in news, storytelling, and descriptions of extreme emotional states.
Definition
Meaning
To cause someone to feel extreme fear, often to the point of being overwhelmed or paralyzed by it.
To fill with terror; to make someone feel intensely frightened or alarmed. Can also imply a lasting psychological impact beyond momentary fear.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Stronger than 'scare' or 'frighten'. Often implies a threat to life, safety, or sanity. Can be used for both immediate physical threats and profound psychological dread.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical in meaning and frequency. Minor differences may appear in accompanying prepositions or typical collocations.
Connotations
Both varieties carry the same strong connotation of extreme fear.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English in formal writing; equally common in spoken language in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] terrifies [NP][NP] is terrified by/of [NP]It terrifies [NP] that...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “scare/terrify the living daylights out of someone”
- “scare/terrify someone out of their wits”
- “scare/terrify someone stiff”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in hyperbolic contexts (e.g., 'The new regulations terrify small business owners').
Academic
Used in psychology, literature, and history to describe profound fear.
Everyday
Common for describing intense fears (e.g., heights, spiders, public speaking).
Technical
Used in clinical psychology (e.g., 'phobic stimuli terrify the patient').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The prospect of a no-deal Brexit terrified many farmers.
- Don't let the horror film terrify you; it's just special effects.
- The sudden explosion terrified the crowd into a stampede.
American English
- The idea of massive student loan debt terrifies recent graduates.
- He didn't want his aggressive dog to terrify the neighbors.
- Climate change reports terrify many coastal communities.
adverb
British English
- The creature moved terrifyingly fast through the water.
- His face was terrifyingly close to the window.
- The situation deteriorated terrifyingly quickly.
American English
- The car swerved terrifyingly close to the edge of the cliff.
- Prices have risen terrifyingly fast this year.
- He was terrifyingly calm during the crisis.
adjective
British English
- The terrifying roar of the engine could be heard for miles.
- She had a terrifying experience getting lost in the moor at night.
- His terrifying temper was known throughout the office.
American English
- The tornado was a terrifying sight.
- She faced the terrifying prospect of starting over.
- He heard a terrifying noise coming from the basement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Loud noises terrify my little sister.
- The dark can terrify some children.
- Spiders absolutely terrify me, so I can't go into the shed.
- The news report about the storm terrified the local residents.
- The political instability in the region terrifies foreign investors.
- He was terrified that his past mistakes would be revealed.
- The philosophical notion of infinite emptiness can terrify even the most rational mind.
- She was utterly terrified into silence by the menacing look in his eyes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'TERROR' inside 'TERRIFY'. To terrify is to fill someone with terror.
Conceptual Metaphor
FEAR IS A PHYSICAL FORCE/ATTACKER ('The nightmare terrified him', 'She was terrified by the thought').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'пугать' (to scare), which is weaker. 'Terrify' is closer to 'ужасать' or 'приводить в ужас'.
- The adjective 'terrified' is often better translated as 'в ужасе' or 'напуганный до смерти' rather than just 'испуганный'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'terrify' for mild fears (overuse).
- Incorrect preposition: 'terrify from' instead of 'terrify of/by'.
- Confusing adjective forms: 'terrifying' (causing fear) vs. 'terrified' (feeling fear).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'terrify' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, significantly. 'Terrify' implies extreme, often paralyzing fear, while 'scare' is more general and can be mild.
'Terrified of' is used for general, often ongoing fears (terrified of spiders). 'Terrified by' is used for specific, immediate causes (terrified by the sudden crash).
Rarely, and only in obvious hyperbole among friends (e.g., 'You terrified me jumping out like that!' after a playful surprise). Its strength makes it unsuitable for most lighthearted contexts.
The primary noun is 'terror'. 'Terrification' exists but is very rare. The state of being terrified is 'terror' or 'fear'.