1
as in dreadfulness
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay
it's difficult to even begin to comprehend the horror of the Holocaust
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nightmare
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness
had never experienced the horrors of war
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3
4
as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger
imagine my horror at finding myself face to face with a lion on the loose
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in disgust
a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness
cat lover or no, she regards cleaning the litter box with horror
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of horror
The hybrid comedy/horror/science fiction film cost around $10 million, although marketing more than doubled that investment.
—
Tom Brueggemann, IndieWire, 2 Feb. 2025
The story sounds like something right out of a horror movie: this fungus hacks the brain of its host, driving the normally shy spiders out of their lairs and webs to an exposed surface.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 2 Feb. 2025
To their horror, the victim was being repeatedly stabbed by her own son, police and prosecutors said.
—Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2025
As is the case with horror icons such as Dracula, Freddy Krueger, and The Babadook, expect Bill Skarsgård's grotesque Count Orlok to be an annual Halloween costume favorite from now on.
—Simon Thompson, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for horror 
Tom Brueggemann, IndieWire, 2 Feb. 2025
The story sounds like something right out of a horror movie: this fungus hacks the brain of its host, driving the normally shy spiders out of their lairs and webs to an exposed surface.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 2 Feb. 2025
To their horror, the victim was being repeatedly stabbed by her own son, police and prosecutors said.
—Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2025
As is the case with horror icons such as Dracula, Freddy Krueger, and The Babadook, expect Bill Skarsgård's grotesque Count Orlok to be an annual Halloween costume favorite from now on.
—Simon Thompson, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for horror
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horror
Noun
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His next stop, at Reading on a short-term deal, was a nightmare.—
Oliver Kay,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Their backcourt — Jrue Holiday and Derrick White — is a nightmare defensively.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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There’s no obvious way out of the mess, but avenues are being explored and the famously-scrappy UK production sector will back itself to find the route through.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
31 Jan. 2025
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In one guardroom, among the mess on the floor, is an orange locker door ripped from its hinges and taped with a poster of Mr. Assad.—
Scott Peterson,
The Christian Science Monitor,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The fear is that one of those reassortments could result in a strain that easily infects and spreads among people.—
Alice Park,
TIME,
4 Feb. 2025
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The fear of the image is something stronger than your own anxiousness.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Mangione became an infamous figure online since his arrest, with the internet thirsting over him after he was apprehended, while many shared more contempt for the executive and the healthcare system, rather than much sympathy or disgust over an act of lethal violence.—
Ethan Millman,
Rolling Stone,
6 Feb. 2025
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For those who are not related to Nico, most fans have expressed outrage, disgust, but the prevailing feeling is hurt.—
Mac Engel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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And as the memories of the atrocity fade, the world is witnessing a resurgence of antisemitism, along with other xenophobia, and distortions of history.—
Natalia Romik / Madę by History,
TIME,
27 Jan. 2025
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Hamas has embedded itself deeply into Gazan society, and its atrocities are carried out with civilian complicity and civilian assistance.—
Todd L. Pittinsky,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Or their parents’ agony, night and day, for the past five years.—
David McGrath,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2025
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Or their parents’ agony, day and night, for the past five years.—
David Mcgrath,
Orlando Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Objects are often askew and out of frame, and everyday sounds like a toilet flush or blinds being pulled assume a low, staticky growl, as though frights fueled by childish imagination.—
Gayle Sequeira,
Vulture,
20 Jan. 2025
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In a second Instagram Stories post, the singer offered another look at the cake, featuring a large bust of a clicker, the fungal zombie-esque frights from the Last of Us video game franchise and HBO series of the same name.—
Gil Macias,
People.com,
13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Yes, but: Heightened anxiety amid the administration's immigration crackdown has triggered dips in school attendance nationwide.—
Alex Golden,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
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The headline result here is pretty clear: people who are more physically active are less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety now and in the future.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside Online,
9 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near horror
Cite this Entry
“Horror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horror. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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