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terror

 - 4 dictionary results

ter⋅ror

  [ter-er]
Use terror in a Sentence
–noun
1. intense, sharp, overmastering fear: to be frantic with terror.
2. an instance or cause of intense fear or anxiety; quality of causing terror: to be a terror to evildoers.
3. any period of frightful violence or bloodshed likened to the Reign of Terror in France.
4. violence or threats of violence used for intimidation or coercion; terrorism.
5. Informal. a person or thing that is especially annoying or unpleasant.
Origin:
1325–75; < L, equiv. to terr(ēre) to frighten + -or -or 1 ; r. ME terrour < AF < L, as above

Related forms:
ter⋅ror⋅ful, adjective
ter⋅ror⋅less, adjective

Synonyms:
1. alarm, dismay, consternation. Terror, horror, panic, fright all imply extreme fear in the presence of danger or evil. Terror implies an intense fear that is somewhat prolonged and may refer to imagined or future dangers: frozen with terror. Horror implies a sense of shock at a danger that is also evil, and the danger may be to others rather than to oneself: to recoil in horror. Panic and fright both imply a sudden shock of fear. Fright is usually of short duration: a spasm of fright. Panic is uncontrolled and unreasoning fear, often groundless, that may be prolonged: The mob was in a panic.

Antonyms:
1. calm.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To terror
ter·ror   (těr'ər)   
n.  

  1. Intense, overpowering fear. See Synonyms at fear.

  2. One that instills intense fear: a rabid dog that became the terror of the neighborhood.

  3. The ability to instill intense fear: the terror of jackboots pounding down the street.

  4. Violence committed or threatened by a group to intimidate or coerce a population, as for military or political purposes.

  5. Informal An annoying or intolerable pest: that little terror of a child.


[Middle English terrour, from Old French terreur, from Latin terror, from terrēre, to frighten.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: ter·ror
Function: noun
: an intense fear of physical injury or death terror by forced entry or unlawful assembly>; also : the infliction of such fear terror>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

terror

see holy terror.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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