horrify

verb

hor·​ri·​fy ˈhȯr-ə-ˌfī 

ˈhär-

horrified; horrifying

transitive verb

1

: to cause to feel horror

2

: to fill with distaste : shock

horrifyingly

ˈhȯr-ə-ˌfī-iŋ-lē 

ˈhär-

adverb

Synonyms

• affright
• alarm
• alarum
• fright
• frighten
• panic
• scare
• scarify
• shock
• spook
• startle
• terrify
• terrorize

Choose the Right Synonym for horrify

dismay, appall, horrify, daunt mean to unnerve or deter by arousing fear, apprehension, or aversion.

dismay implies that one is disconcerted and at a loss as to how to deal with something.

dismayed at the size of the job

appall implies that one is faced with that which perturbs, confounds, or shocks.

I am appalled by your behavior

horrify stresses a reaction of horror or revulsion.

was horrified by such wanton cruelty

daunt suggests a cowing, disheartening, or frightening in a venture requiring courage.

a cliff that would daunt the most intrepid climber

Examples of horrify in a Sentence

The details of the crime horrified the nation.

They were horrified by the movie's violence.

Recent Examples on the Web

We’d be horrified and trembling with trauma endorphins. —Ed Herro, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Dec. 2024

Despite Orlok’s prosthetic decrepitude and the plague-like toxicity of his love, what truly horrifies Ellen about him is that some unknown part of her nature craves his touch. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024

Between the open-air smelting, wire burning, and other miscellaneous wrecking, I’m horrified by the thought of how thoroughly poisoned Katangua must be. —Vince Beiser, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024

Elphaba’s sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode) is horrified, but not as much as their father (Andy Nyman), who seems to drop dead in shock. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably from horri(fic) + -fy

Note: Given the late appearance of the word, it is most likely not a borrowing from Latin horrificāre "to ruffle the surface of, frighten, terrify."

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

horrify

verb

hor·​ri·​fy ˈhȯr-ə-ˌfī 

ˈhär-

horrified; horrifying

: to cause to feel horror