horror

noun

ˈhȯr-ər How to pronounce horror (audio)
Definition of horrornext
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

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2
as in nightmare
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness had never experienced the horrors of war

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3
as in mess
something unpleasant to look at are you really going to hang that horror on the wall?

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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

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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

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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 He’s also been seen starring in the Money Heist spinoff Berlin and will be seen coming up in the untitled Meta series based on A24’s breakout horror film Talk to Me. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 Lachman, who stars in this month’s release of horror movie Other Mommy, could see the potential. — Amira Hashish, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026 This is a creation of the wildly successful teen horror writer behind Goosebumps, a sequel to a 2025 Tubi original. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026 This year has included everything from a pair of OnlyFans dramedies to the horror-comedy hybrid Widow’s Bay, alongside the return of some big names like Ted Lasso and Silo. — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for horror
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horror
  1. atrocity
  2. nightmare
  3. mess
  4. fear
  5. disgust
  6. awfulness
  7. agony
  8. fright
Noun
  • To Lose Their Citizenship Abraham noted during a Q&A at NYFF that much of the film overlaps with previous reporting and that atrocities in Gaza have been documented for years.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Eritrean forces fought alongside Ethiopia’s federal military during the previous war and were accused of atrocities against Tigrayan civilians.
    — Alemayehu Fentaw Weldemariam, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of atrocity
Noun
  • That single choice unleashes a harrowing chain of strange and terrifying events in the dead of night, turning a simple gesture of kindness into a real-life nightmare.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Acceptance Soenen’s denial eventually gave way to panic attacks and nightmares.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of nightmare
Noun
  • This is just another mess for the WNBA, a terrible look for A'ja Wilson, and wildly unprofessional from Amazon Prime Video.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Rather than simply detecting physical obstacles, the system distinguishes between different types of messes and household objects to optimize cleaning strategies.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of mess
Noun
  • Residents say Ethiopian federal forces retook Mekelle’s airport from Tigrayan fighters, but communications blackouts and fear of reprisals have left unclear who controls Tigray’s capital city.
    — Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The book offers creative ways to manage fear and negativity — like pretend-flushing your mistakes down the toilet — before, during and after a high-stakes task.
    — Lennon Sherburne, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of fear
Noun
  • Amateur humiliation content has become widespread on the internet, giving Americans more opportunities than ever to indulge in gleeful disgust or righteous outrage.
    — Daniel LaChance, The Conversation, 21 Sep. 2026
  • This week’s list of South Florida restaurants failing inspection doesn’t bring volume — four restaurants — but does bring a strong amount of disgust.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of disgust
Noun
  • In a world so full of dread and awfulness, why not take a moment to read anonymous petty literary gossip on the internet?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The relative excitement around the Rockies having arrived in San Diego at 6-6 is a reaction based on their relative awfulness.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of awfulness
Noun
  • When John reveals the Halogram to Kerry (after fair warning), the look on her face is a mix of shock and agony.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Burns, 28, dropped to the ground in agony on his 25th snap of the Giants’ narrow 12-7 win over the Tennessee Titans.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of agony
Noun
  • But don’t worry, all the frights and fun are still heading our way soon.
    — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Moments later their fun turned into fright as the coyote continued attacking the child, even after Cardinal yelled at it.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fright

Browse Nearby Words

horrifying
horror
horrors
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Cite this Entry

“Horror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horror. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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