Terrify
/ˈtɛrəˌfaɪ/
verbB2
Definition
To terrify someone means to cause a strong feeling of fear or shock. It is more intense than just being afraid; it usually means the fear is very strong and sudden. People, animals, or situations can terrify others.
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See It in Action
To cause someone to feel very afraid
- •The loud thunder terrified the children.
- •The dark alley at night terrified me.
- •The movie was so scary it terrified the audience.
To shock someone strongly with fear or worry
- •The news of the accident terrified the whole town.
- •The idea of losing her job terrified her.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "terrify" like "scare," but much stronger and more sudden—like a big jump scare in a movie
- ✓Picture a dark forest at night where you hear strange noises and feel very afraid quickly
- ✓It's the feeling when you suddenly see a big spider on your arm and your heart beats fast
- ✓Sounds like "TERR-uh-fy" → imagine a loud, scary roar that makes you freeze in fear
- ✓Think about horror movies where characters are terrified by ghosts or monsters
- ✓NOT like "worry" (a small, slow feeling), "terrify" is a strong, immediate fear
- ✓NOT like "surprise" (can be good or bad), "terrify" always means fear and danger
- ✓NOT like "frighten" (similar but less strong), "terrify" means the fear is very big and hard to ignore
Try Other Words
- •Frighten: to make afraid (Use when the fear is strong but less extreme than terrify)
- •Alarm: to cause sudden fear or worry (Use when the fear is about danger or emergency)
- •Panic: to cause sudden, strong fear that can make someone lose control (Use when fear causes confusion or fast action)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "terri-" (from Latin "terrere" meaning to frighten) + "-fy" (a suffix meaning "to make or cause")
- •Etymology: From Latin "terrificare," meaning to frighten or cause terror
- •Historical development: Used in English since the late 1500s to mean causing great fear
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe strong fear caused by people, animals, situations, or stories
Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of things terrify you the most, and why do you think that is?
•How can understanding the word "terrify" help you express feelings of fear in different situations?
Fill in the blanks
1.Loud noises often terrify children because they ___ unexpected and ___ loud.
2.The dark and empty street at night can terrify people who ___ alone.
3.Unlike "scare," to terrify someone means the fear is ___ and ___.
4.The horror movie was designed to terrify the audience by using ___ sounds and ___ scenes.
5.When she heard the strange noise, she was terrified and ___ to find out what it was.
6.News about natural disasters can terrify communities because they ___ real danger.
7.People who terrify others often use sudden actions or ___ to cause fear quickly.