night terror
noun
: a sudden awakening in dazed terror that occurs in children during slow-wave sleep, is often preceded by a sudden shrill cry uttered in sleep, and is not remembered when the child awakes
—usually used in plural
Examples of night terror in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sleep deprivation increases the likelihood of night terrors.
—
Arielle Tschinkel, Parents, 12 Feb. 2025
The other two children suffered similar abuses and suffered from a range of behavioral issues, including panic, fearfulness, injury, difficulty focusing, night terrors, and uncontrollable crying, the families allege.
—Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 8 Dec. 2024
The Germanic nightmare fae, the Alp, causes night terrors by sitting in the chest of a sleeping human.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Most children don't even remember having had night terrors.
—Lori Miller Kase, Parents, 30 Oct. 2024
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Arielle Tschinkel, Parents, 12 Feb. 2025
The other two children suffered similar abuses and suffered from a range of behavioral issues, including panic, fearfulness, injury, difficulty focusing, night terrors, and uncontrollable crying, the families allege.
—Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 8 Dec. 2024
The Germanic nightmare fae, the Alp, causes night terrors by sitting in the chest of a sleeping human.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Most children don't even remember having had night terrors.
—Lori Miller Kase, Parents, 30 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for night terror
Cite this Entry
“Night terror.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/night%20terror. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
night terror
noun
night ter·ror
-ˈter-ər 
: a sudden awakening in dazed terror that occurs in children during slow-wave sleep, is often preceded by a sudden shrill cry uttered in sleep, and is not remembered when the child awakes
—usually used in plural
called also pavor nocturnus
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