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
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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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of horror
Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach, who wrote Blumhouse horror movies like Truth or Dare and Fantasy Island, wrote the film, and filmmaker Michael Bay is listed among its producers.
—
Tommy McArdle, People.com, 22 Jan. 2025
The gothic horror film — which has been nominated for five BAFTA Awards, including best cinematography and best makeup and hair — is streamable online through premium video-on-demand platforms.
—Rudie Obias, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2025
Where to watch: Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Amazon, Netflix
'Get Out' (2017)
While scary movies have long had a socially conscious side, Jordan Peele brought it back to the fore in a big way with his first directorial outing, one of the best horror movies in recent memory.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025
As Frontline previously reported, some AfD leaders followers of the party have sought to downplay or deny the horrors of Nazi Germany.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for horror 
Tommy McArdle, People.com, 22 Jan. 2025
The gothic horror film — which has been nominated for five BAFTA Awards, including best cinematography and best makeup and hair — is streamable online through premium video-on-demand platforms.
—Rudie Obias, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2025
Where to watch: Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Amazon, Netflix
'Get Out' (2017)
While scary movies have long had a socially conscious side, Jordan Peele brought it back to the fore in a big way with his first directorial outing, one of the best horror movies in recent memory.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025
As Frontline previously reported, some AfD leaders followers of the party have sought to downplay or deny the horrors of Nazi Germany.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for horror
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horror
Noun
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Title nightmare On a recent morning, Wade Clark stood in front of the shell of what used to be his home in Clearwater.—
Ben Wieder,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2025
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But the fairytale turns into a nightmare when Ivan’s handler (Karren Karagulian) and henchman (Yura Borisov) enter the picture.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
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By Jeffrey Kluger January 17, 2025 1:12 PM EST A lot of hardware destined for space went to pieces this week, but to hear the rocket companies responsible for the messes tell it, little untoward happened at all.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
TIME,
17 Jan. 2025
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And who made the mess in question in the first place?—
Judith Martin,
The Mercury News,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But this progress was not inevitable; it was forged through struggle and the determination to rise above fear and division.—
John Hope Bryant,
TIME,
23 Jan. 2025
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Letting go of the fear now serves as an unspoken theme of Chickahominy.—
Tricia Despres,
People.com,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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My read is that Corbet is pointedly leading the viewer to pore over the specifics of Tóth’s fate: Although the director’s disgust for the hollowness of the institution that Tóth tries, and ultimately fails, to navigate is thuddingly clear, what happens next to the character is more oblique.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2025
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From celebrities to plutocrats like Elon Musk, there’s more disgust with the elite than ever.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Non-Burman, non-Buddhist communities are marginalized, oppressed, and subjected to a campaign of violence involving a litany of atrocity crimes.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
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The State Department, for instance, issued a formal atrocity determination in 2023 that named Ethiopian forces responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.—
Sarah Yager,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Ohio State had several years of agony fueling its CFP run, and the 2025 season will be Penn State’s turn to attempt something similar.—
Austin Meek,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
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After 15 months of agony, the potential Gaza ceasefire comes as a colossal relief not just for Palestinians and Israelis, but for the wider Middle East.—
Max Rodenbeck,
TIME,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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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
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The Vanishing will have no shortage of frights, action and bizarre phenomena.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The situation caused Campbell a lot of anxiety, but became a pivotal shift in her perspective.—
Kait Hanson,
Glamour,
18 Jan. 2025
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Then the widespread anxiety spurred by a wave of high-profile robberies and the deadly home-invasion of Jacqueline Avant.—
Gary Baum,
The Hollywood Reporter,
18 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near horror
Cite this Entry
“Horror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horror. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
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