ter·ror

ter·ror
/ˈterɚ/ noun
1 : a very strong feeling of fear
[noncount]

The sound of guns being fired fills me with terror.

There was a look of (sheer) terror on her face.

Many civilians fled in terror.

They lived in terror of being discovered. = They lived in terror that they would be discovered.

Until recently, the mere mention of the disease struck terror in (the hearts of) people.

[singular]

someone with a terror of water [=someone who is extremely afraid of being in water]

a terror that is still fresh in her memory

2 : something that causes very strong feelings of fear : something that is terrifying
[count]

the terrors of war

the terrors of life in the jungle

[noncount]

tales of terror

3 [noncount] : violence that is committed by a person, group, or government in order to frighten people and achieve a political goal

a regime that rules by terror

bombings and other acts of terror

These people have been living with terror and the threat of terror for many years.

a war on terror [=terrorism]

a campaign of terror against ethnic minority groups

— see also ↑reign of terror
4 [count] informal : a child who behaves very badly

My nephew is a little terror. [=brat]

Their kids are holy terrors. [=their kids behave very badly]

hold no terror (or hold no terrors)
◇ If something holds no terror/terrors for you, you are not afraid of it.

Death holds no terror for them.

She's done it enough times that it holds no terrors now.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • ter´ror|iz´er — ter|ror|ize «TEHR uh ryz», transitive verb, ized, iz|ing. 1. to fill with terror: »The sight of the growling dog terrorized the little child. SYNONYM(S): terrify. 2. to rule or subdue by causing terror. SYNONYM(S): browbeat, intimidate.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Ter|ror — «TEHR uhr», noun. 1. great fear: »The child has a terror of thunder. SYNONYM(S): fright, alarm, dread, consternation. 2. a cause of great fear: »Pirates were once the terror of the sea. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats (Shakespeare).… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ter|ror — «TEHR uhr», noun. 1. great fear: »The child has a terror of thunder. SYNONYM(S): fright, alarm, dread, consternation. 2. a cause of great fear: »Pirates were once the terror of the sea. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats (Shakespeare).… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ter´ror|i|za´tion — ter|ror|ize «TEHR uh ryz», transitive verb, ized, iz|ing. 1. to fill with terror: »The sight of the growling dog terrorized the little child. SYNONYM(S): terrify. 2. to rule or subdue by causing terror. SYNONYM(S): browbeat, intimidate.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ter|ror|ize — «TEHR uh ryz», transitive verb, ized, iz|ing. 1. to fill with terror: »The sight of the growling dog terrorized the little child. SYNONYM(S): terrify. 2. to rule or subdue by causing terror. SYNONYM(S): browbeat, intimidate. –ter´ror|i|za´tion …   Useful english dictionary

  • ter|ror-strick|en — «TEHR uhr STRIHK uhn», adjective. = terrified. (Cf. ↑terrified) …   Useful english dictionary

  • ter|ror|ise — «TEHR uh ryz», transitive verb, ised, is|ing. Especially British. terrorize …   Useful english dictionary

  • ter|ror|ism — «TEHR uh rihz uhm», noun. 1. the act of terrorizing; use of terror, especially the systematic use of terror by a government or other authority against particular persons or groups. 2. a condition of fear and submission produced by frightening… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ter|ror|is|tic — «TEHR uh RIHS tihk», adjective. using or favoring methods that inspire terror …   Useful english dictionary

  • ter|ror|ist — «TEHR uhr ihst», noun, adjective. –n. a person who uses or favors terrorism: »Venezuelan terrorists attacked a prison in Caracas and about 600 prisoners were said to have escaped (Wall Street Journal). –adj. of or by terrorists; terroristic …   Useful english dictionary

  • ter|ror|less — «TEHR uhr lihs», adjective. 1. free from terror. 2. without terrors …   Useful english dictionary

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