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
Most children don't even remember having had night terrors.
—
Lori Miller Kase, Parents, 30 Oct. 2024
The creepiest part may have been when their 8-year-old daughter started experiencing sudden night terrors and bouts of sleepwalking.
—Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024
Rainy’s night terrors returned, with recurring dreams of her adoptive father dying.
—Hannah Bassett, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2024
Unfortunately, for those of us experiencing night terrors, undisturbed sleep is hardly ever achieved.
—Donna Sarkar, Discover Magazine, 14 Aug. 2024
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Lori Miller Kase, Parents, 30 Oct. 2024
The creepiest part may have been when their 8-year-old daughter started experiencing sudden night terrors and bouts of sleepwalking.
—Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024
Rainy’s night terrors returned, with recurring dreams of her adoptive father dying.
—Hannah Bassett, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2024
Unfortunately, for those of us experiencing night terrors, undisturbed sleep is hardly ever achieved.
—Donna Sarkar, Discover Magazine, 14 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for night terror
Dictionary Entries Near night terror
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“Night terror.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/night%20terror. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
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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