Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Stricken with horror: Overwhelmed by a sudden, intense feeling of shock, terror, or dread. It describes a state of being deeply and visibly affected by something horrifying.

Usage

• The adjective "horror-stricken" is used to describe a person's extreme emotional and often physical reaction to a terrifying event or sight. It emphasizes a state of being paralyzed or deeply shaken by fear.
• It typically functions as a predicate adjective (following a linking verb like , , ) or as an attributive adjective before a noun.

Examples

• As a predicate adjective:
  • The crowd was horror-stricken by the sudden explosion.
  • She stood horror-stricken, unable to move or scream.
• As an attributive adjective:
  • His horror-stricken face told the whole story.
  • A horror-stricken silence fell over the room.

Advanced Usage

• "horror-stricken at/by something": This prepositional phrase is commonly used to specify the cause of the horror.
  • They were horror-stricken at the news of the accident.
  • He was horror-stricken by the gruesome scene.

Variants and Related Words

• Horror-struck (adjective): An exact synonym, identical in meaning and usage to "horror-stricken."
  • She was horror-struck at the thought.
• Horrified (adjective): A more common synonym, meaning filled with horror.
  • He looked horrified by the suggestion.

Synonyms

• Aghast: Filled with horror or shock.
• Terrified: Extremely frightened.
• Appalled: Greatly dismayed or horrified.

Related Phrases

• Struck with horror: A phrase with the same meaning, where "struck" functions similarly to "stricken."
  • They were struck with horror at the revelation.

Adjective

1. stricken with horror