terror
TEH-ruh
Terror (noun) means Intense fear. Example: “The little boy trembled with terror during the thunderstorm.”
noun
1
Intense fear.
"The little boy trembled with terror during the thunderstorm."
"She screamed in terror when the lights went out."
"The hostages lived in terror for three days."
2
Violence intended to create widespread fear, especially for political ends.
"The country has suffered several acts of terror in recent years."
3
A person or thing that causes great fear, or (informally) a badly behaved person.
"That puppy is a little terror and chews every shoe he finds."
"The dragon in the story was a terror to the whole village."
"Their toddler is an absolute terror at bedtime."
How to use terror
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtreme fear, an act meant to cause that fear, or informally a mischievous person.
Common pairings
reign of terror
act of terror
in terror
a little terror
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Word forms
- Plural
- terrors
- Comparative
- more terror
- Superlative
- most terror
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The little boy trembled with _____ during the thunderstorm.
Etymology
From Old French terreur, from Latin terror, "fright, dread," from terrere, "to frighten."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for terror
See all rhymes for terror →Frequently asked questions
What does “terror” mean?
The word “terror” means intense fear. In plain terms, extreme fear, an act meant to cause that fear, or informally a mischievous person.
How do you pronounce “terror”?
“Terror” is pronounced TEH-ruh (/ˈtɛɹ.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “terror” in a sentence?
Here is “terror” used in a sentence: “She screamed in terror when the lights went out.”
What is another word for “terror”?
Words with a similar meaning to “terror” include horror.
What part of speech is “terror”?
“Terror” is a noun.
Where does the word “terror” come from?
The word “terror” comes from Latin. From Old French terreur, from Latin terror, "fright, dread," from terrere, "to frighten.".
Is “terror” a common word?
“Terror” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “terror” have?
“Terror” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: intense fear.
What is the difference between "terror" and "fear"?
"Fear" is a general response to danger and can be mild or strong, while "terror" is fear at its most intense and overwhelming. Terror describes being gripped by extreme, often paralysing dread.
What is the difference between "terror" and "horror"?
"Terror" is the intense fear felt when facing or anticipating danger, while "horror" mixes fear with shock, disgust, or revulsion at something dreadful. You feel terror as a threat approaches and horror at the sight of its aftermath.
What is the difference between "terror" and "terrorism"?
"Terror" can mean intense fear or, more broadly, violence meant to create widespread fear for political ends, while "terrorism" is the specific practice of using such violence. Terrorism produces terror as its intended effect.
What are common phrases using "terror"?
Frequent collocations include "reign of terror," "war on terror," "sheer terror," and "night terror." These span the emotion of intense fear and the political sense of organised violence.
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