Definition

1. Transitive Verb:
   • To cause someone to feel extreme shock, fear, or disgust; to fill with horror.
   • To cause a strong feeling of revulsion or alarm.

Usage

The verb "horrify" describes the action of inducing a powerful negative emotional reaction, typically shock or dread, in another person. It is often used in passive constructions (e.g., "I was horrified") to describe the state of the person experiencing the horror. It implies that the cause is something profoundly disturbing, shocking, or morally repugnant.

Examples

• The graphic images from the war zone horrified the international community.
• It horrifies me to think that such injustice could go unpunished.
• She was horrified by the cruel treatment of the animals.
• The idea of public speaking horrifies him.

Advanced Usage

• "to be horrified at/by something": This is a common prepositional collocation to specify the cause of the horror.
  • We were horrified at the sheer scale of the destruction.
  • He was horrified by their lack of compassion.

Variants and Related Words

• Horror (n): An intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust.
  • She watched in horror as the car skidded off the road.
• Horrifying (adj): Causing horror; extremely shocking or frightening.
  • The documentary contained horrifying footage.
• Horrific (adj): Causing horror; dreadful.
  • The accident was a horrific scene.

Synonyms

• Appall: To greatly dismay or horrify.
• Shock: To cause a sudden and disturbing surprise or emotional upset.
• Terrify: To cause to feel extreme fear.
• Disgust: To cause a strong feeling of dislike or revulsion.

Antonyms

• Delight: To please someone greatly.
• Reassure: To say or do something to remove someone's doubts or fears.
• Comfort: To ease the grief or distress of.

Related Phrases

• "to one's horror": Used to introduce a fact or event that causes someone horror.
  • He realized, to his horror, that he had left his passport at home.

Verb

1. fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised
   • I was horrified at the thought of being late for my interview
   • The news of the executions horrified us