nightmare
[ nahyt-mair ]
/ ˈnaɪtˌmɛər /
noun
a terrifying dream in which the dreamer experiences feelings of helplessness, extreme anxiety, sorrow, etc.
a condition, thought, or experience suggestive of a nightmare: the nightmare of his years in prison.
(formerly) a monster or evil spirit believed to oppress persons during sleep.
VIDEO FOR NIGHTMARE
WATCH NOW: The Suffocating History Behind The Word "Nightmare"
It's dark. You're alone. Was that a footstep? Did something just brush up against you? You fight to get up, but you're stuck ... right on top of you is a horrifying nightmare. Sorry, did you say a nightmare was on top of me?
synonym study for nightmare
1. See
dream.
Words nearby nightmare
nightingale, florence,
nightjar,
nightlife,
nightlong,
nightly,
nightmare,
nightmarish,
nightrider,
nights,
nightscape,
nightshade
Example sentences from the Web for nightmare
British Dictionary definitions for nightmare
nightmare
/ (ˈnaɪtˌmɛə) /
noun
a terrifying or deeply distressing dream
- an event or condition resembling a terrifying dreamthe nightmare of shipwreck
- (as modifier)a nightmare drive
a thing that is feared
(formerly) an evil spirit supposed to harass or suffocate sleeping people
Derived forms of nightmare
nightmarish, adjective nightmarishly, adverb nightmarishness, nounWord Origin for nightmare
C13 (meaning: incubus; C16: bad dream): from
night + Old English
mare, mære evil spirit, from Germanic; compare Old Norse
mara incubus, Polish
zmora, French
cauchemar nightmare
Medical definitions for nightmare
nightmare
[ nīt′mâr′ ]
n.
A dream arousing feelings of intense fear, horror, and distress.
An event or experience that is intensely distressing.