Words / B2

TER-if-eye/ˈterɪfaɪ/

To terrify is to make someone extremely frightened: terrify the public; a terrifying delay. Terror is the feeling or a campaign of fear (next entries); fear is milder; terrify is stronger than scare. Flood footage terrified viewers, the media paper said. Mix-up: terrific means excellent (easy trap); terrorise is repeated intimidation. Do not write terrify for mild exam nerves.

Meaning

To make someone extremely frightened.

Examples

• “Flood footage terrified viewers, the media paper said, not a jump-scare clip.”
• “A terrifying near-miss still needs the near-miss log, which is the H&S sense.”

Good to know

terrify + person; terrifying + noun; terrified of. Milder: scare / frighten. Trap: terrific. News, literature, and H&S. Extreme fear, not “a bit worried”.

Near in meaning

frighten

New