terror
[ ter-er ]
/ ˈtɛr ər /
noun
intense, sharp, overmastering fear: to be frantic with terror.
an instance or cause of intense fear or anxiety; quality of causing terror: to be a terror to evildoers.
any period of frightful violence or bloodshed likened to the Reign of Terror in France.
violence or threats of violence used for intimidation or coercion; terrorism.
Informal.
a person or thing that is especially annoying or unpleasant.
Origin of terror
1325–75; < Latin, equivalent to
terr(ēre) to frighten +
-or
-or1; replacing Middle English
terrour < Anglo-French < Latin, as above
SYNONYMS FOR terror
1
alarm,
dismay,
consternation.
Terror,
horror,
panic,
fright all imply extreme fear in the presence of danger or evil.
Terror implies an intense fear that is somewhat prolonged and may refer to imagined or future dangers:
frozen with terror.
Horror implies a sense of shock at a danger that is also evil, and the danger may be to others rather than to oneself:
to recoil in horror.
Panic and
fright both imply a sudden shock of fear.
Fright is usually of short duration:
a spasm of fright.
Panic is uncontrolled and unreasoning fear, often groundless, that may be prolonged:
The mob was in a panic.
OTHER WORDS FROM terror
ter·ror·ful, adjective ter·ror·less, adjective coun·ter·ter·ror, nounWords nearby terror
territorialize,
territorian,
territory,
territory wool,
terroir,
terror,
terror-stricken,
terrorism,
terrorist,
terrorize,
terry
Example sentences from the Web for terror
British Dictionary definitions for terror
terror
/ (ˈtɛrə) /
noun
great fear, panic, or dread
a person or thing that inspires great dread
informal
a troublesome person or thing, esp a child
terrorism
Derived forms of terror
terrorful, adjective terrorless, adjectiveWord Origin for terror
C14: from Old French
terreur, from Latin
terror, from
terrēre to frighten; related to Greek
trein to run away in terror
Idioms and Phrases with terror
terror
see holy terror.