terrify
/'terifai/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: To fill with extreme fear; to frighten someone greatly.
Usage
The verb "terrify" describes the action of causing someone to feel intense, overwhelming terror or dread. It is a strong word indicating a level of fear beyond simple fright or nervousness. It is typically used with a direct object (someone or something is terrified).
Examples
- The sudden, loud explosion terrified the entire neighborhood.
- The thought of speaking in front of a large crowd terrifies her.
- He was terrified by the strange noises coming from the basement at night.
Advanced Usage
- To be terrified of (something/someone): This is a common passive construction describing the state of feeling extreme fear.
- Many people are terrified of spiders.
- Terrifying (Adjective): Used to describe something that causes terror.
- The movie featured a terrifying monster.
Variants and Related Words
- Terrified (Adjective): Filled with terror.
- The terrified child hid under the bed.
- Terrifying (Adjective): Causing terror.
- It was a terrifying experience.
- Terror (Noun): Extreme fear.
- The villagers lived in terror of the dragon.
Synonyms
- Frighten: To make afraid (can be less intense than terrify).
- Horrify: To cause feelings of horror, often mixed with shock or disgust.
- Petrify: To paralyze with fear; to make someone so frightened they cannot move.
- Alarm: To cause sudden fear or anxiety about danger.
Phrasal Verbs / Common Constructions
- Terrify someone into (doing something): To use terror to force someone to act.
- The dictator terrified the population into submission.
Verb
- fill with terror; frighten greatly