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

Continue reading … -- IN OTHER NEWS SHIELD YOUR CHILDREN – Passengers horrified after airline plays explicit movie on every screen. —Fox News, 8 Oct. 2024

There is ultimately nothing heroic about this guy, and feeling bad for him (and ultimately horrified by him) is about as far as your emotional connection with him can go. —Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2024

The high-profile homicide case horrified the city and spurred conversations about safety concerns that residents face in public spaces. —Adam Tamburin, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024

She is horrified by the possibility of another Trump presidency. —Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 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