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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nightmare
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness
had never experienced the horrors of war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of horror
In 2015, Carvell Wallace wrote about Jackson’s endlessly complicated legacy, and the beauty and horror that his life represented.
—
Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2026
Alien Day was this past Sunday (April 26), and to celebrate one of the best sci-fi horror franchises of all time, HBO Max has just added the special editions of the first four Alien movies onto the streaming service.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, too many people and families have already had to experience the horror of injury or death at the hands of negligent drivers, including Heastie’s own constituents in the Bronx.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Send Help, a survival horror thriller starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, is coming soon to streaming video on demand on Hulu.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for horror
Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2026
Alien Day was this past Sunday (April 26), and to celebrate one of the best sci-fi horror franchises of all time, HBO Max has just added the special editions of the first four Alien movies onto the streaming service.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, too many people and families have already had to experience the horror of injury or death at the hands of negligent drivers, including Heastie’s own constituents in the Bronx.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Send Help, a survival horror thriller starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, is coming soon to streaming video on demand on Hulu.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for horror
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horror
Noun
-
This truly is my living nightmare.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Alice is a rural teacher living on a farm with her adoptive parents, but the unexpected return of her siblings transforms the house into a true nightmare.—
Roberto Prieto,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Mets are almost always a chaotic mess, and Cora has worked hard to put the Astros scandal behind him.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Homeowners dealing with drainage issues already know how pooling water can damage plants and create a mess.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Future Hall of Fame QBs are built to block out fear and bury doubt.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
According to some experts, this paralyzing fear and desperation are factors that scammers exploit to put their criminal schemes into action.—
Albinson Linares,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Repulsion, disgust, and ambivalence can all find rootedness in horror.—
Horace D. Ballard,
Artforum,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Some also voiced their disgust during the protests in September.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Since insurgents ousted former President Bashar Assad in December 2024, dozens of members of his security agencies that were blamed for atrocities during the conflict have been arrested.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
By compiling a vast database of this material and sharing it through impactful social videos, the project has reached millions, providing vital eyewitness testimonies and interactive resources to document the atrocities faced by the people of Gaza.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Those who suffered through chickenpox as kids likely remember the agony of its itchy rash.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
-
To encompass the story, about a miracle from 847, when Pope Leo IV stopped a fire with a blessing, Raphael brings you into the fresco through the unshod feet of a woman in agony and leaves you near the very back, with a tiny and serene Leo IV.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The 1390 Super Duke RR is leaner and better appointed for handling than the regular Super Duke R, and is sure to give your insurer a proper fright.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Dark, eerie, and paranoid (for good reason), the eight-episode season shifts back and forth from the casual grimness of an unwelcoming reality to the shocking frights of a stoner’s worst nightmare (the latter of which is shrewdly motivated by Rachel regularly smoking pot).—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Incoming college freshmen are easy targets for people looking to profit from anxiety about loneliness, which the former US Surgeon General called an epidemic.—
Mary Frances Ruskell,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Maygen says Paisley has struggled with anxiety ever since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 2 years old.—
Nicki Cox,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Horror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horror. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
