as in gruesome
causing great horror or fear
We heard bloodcurdling stories about the war. bloodcurdling screams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bloodcurdling
India’s largest state, Uttar Pradesh, is run by Yogi Adityanath, a Hindu monk who founded an anti-Muslim militia and whose bloodcurdling rhetoric against Muslims once placed him beyond the pale of high office.
—
Sadanand Dhume, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
In Act III, the bloodcurdling chorus of the Dutchman’s spectral crew lacked a persuasive visual component.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2020
The sounds of more explosions could be heard deriving from the outside amid more seemingly bloodcurdling screams, yells, sirens and alarms.
—Sean Lester Durham, The Root, 8 Apr. 2018
To me, a noose is merely a noose — not a bloodcurdling symbol of racist violence.
—Kevin Riordan, Philly.com, 1 Nov. 2017
A young girl issued bloodcurdling screams as nurses cleaned cuts running up her leg.
—Azam Ahmed, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2016
Sadanand Dhume, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
In Act III, the bloodcurdling chorus of the Dutchman’s spectral crew lacked a persuasive visual component.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2020
The sounds of more explosions could be heard deriving from the outside amid more seemingly bloodcurdling screams, yells, sirens and alarms.
—Sean Lester Durham, The Root, 8 Apr. 2018
To me, a noose is merely a noose — not a bloodcurdling symbol of racist violence.
—Kevin Riordan, Philly.com, 1 Nov. 2017
A young girl issued bloodcurdling screams as nurses cleaned cuts running up her leg.
—Azam Ahmed, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bloodcurdling
Adjective
-
Ten people were murdered in the New York City subway system last year — including the recent, random and gruesome immolation of a homeless New Jersey woman asleep on a Brooklyn train — up from five murders in 2023.Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2025
-
Did Hawthorne base these characters on the Rev. Ephraim Avery and his young congregant Sarah Maria Cornell, whose gruesome death in 1832 in Fall River, 50 miles south of Boston, shocked all of New England?Liesl Schillinger, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The war that began with the horrific massacre on October 7th has devastated the region and led to the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians.Staff report, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2025
-
The horrific Palisades Fire may have started at a spot near the popular Temescal Ridge trail.Andrew Moseman, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Which sounds kind of nerdy and scary simultaneously.Davey Winder, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
-
In the pilot alone, season two feels a little scarier than one.Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The glorious few who still worry about the decline of Palm Beach society speculated wildly that Trump was planning to legalize gambling and build a casino, or — the truly frightening possibility — subdivide his acreage and sell houses.Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
-
In a cast full of mothers, the women are naturally sympathetic, triggered by the idea that something that frightening could happen to them too – only to be a little flummoxed at the full picture as more details started to come out.Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The stability and flexibility around Josh Allen makes for a terrifying formula.Derrik Klassen, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
-
What’s more terrifying than losing control of your physical and mental self as your most primal, animalistic instincts take the wheel?David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Houston’s defense was terrific Saturday, with four interceptions of Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and four sacks.Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 13 Jan. 2025
-
Green Bay will now need a terrific offseason to challenge the conference’s top teams.Rob Reischel, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
On Monday, in a shocking move, Disney announced a deal to merge its Hulu + Live TV service with competitor Fubo.Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2025
-
In fact, the difference is actually pretty shocking.Kleigh Balugo, StyleCaster, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Given this area’s rich history with horrible weather and big events at this time of year, there is still a chance that the Cotton Bowl will be postponed until Saturday.Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2025
-
How horrible for my sweet little nephews to watch their house disappear like this.Becca Longmire, People.com, 8 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near bloodcurdling
Cite this Entry
“Bloodcurdling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bloodcurdling. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share