TERROR Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'terror' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of terror are alarm , dread , fear , fright , panic , and trepidation . While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," terror implies the most extreme degree of fear. // immobilized with terror

Q: When is it sensible to use 'alarm' instead of 'terror'?

The words alarm and terror are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger. // view the situation with alarm

Q: When might 'dread' be a better fit than 'terror'?

While in some cases nearly identical to terror , dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety. // faced the meeting with dread

Q: When can 'fear' be used instead of 'terror'?

The words fear and terror can be used in similar contexts, but fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage. // fear of the unknown

Q: In what contexts can 'fright' take the place of 'terror'?

While the synonyms fright and terror are close in meaning, fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear. // fright at being awakened suddenly

Q: Where would 'panic' be a reasonable alternative to 'terror'?

The synonyms panic and terror are sometimes interchangeable, but panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity. // the news caused widespread panic

Q: How do 'trepidation' and 'dread' relate to one another, in the sense of 'terror'?

Trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation. // raised the subject with trepidation

terror

noun

ˈter-ər

Definition of terror

as in demon

a source of persistent emotional distress after the death of her father, fear of developing cancer became one of the terrors of her life

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in fear

the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger the reports of a serial killer on the loose struck terror into our hearts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word terror distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of terror are alarm, dread, fear, fright, panic, and trepidation. While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

immobilized with terror

When is it sensible to use alarm instead of terror?

The words alarm and terror are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

view the situation with alarm

When might dread be a better fit than terror?

While in some cases nearly identical to terror, dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety.

faced the meeting with dread

When can fear be used instead of terror?

The words fear and terror can be used in similar contexts, but fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

fear of the unknown

In what contexts can fright take the place of terror?

While the synonyms fright and terror are close in meaning, fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

fright at being awakened suddenly

Where would panic be a reasonable alternative to terror?

The synonyms panic and terror are sometimes interchangeable, but panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

the news caused widespread panic

How do trepidation and dread relate to one another, in the sense of terror?

Trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation.

raised the subject with trepidation

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 terror Continue reading … TERROR THWARTED — Mall of America terror plot suspect is birthright citizen with Somali parents. — FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 The character’s name is Adelaide, seemingly the headmistress of a home for gifted young women and the person behind the camera of the talking head interviews that have teased the terror to come all season. — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 For engineers, having a blank slate was both an appeal and a terror. — Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026 As the age’s potent mix of terror and delirium spun on, designers and illustrators proposed ways to live comfortably in space, underwater or in underground bunkers. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for terror

Recent Examples of Synonyms for terror

Noun

No ghosts, ghouls, or demons here, just the evil things that greed makes people do, at least until the little guy starts fighting back.

— Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 16 Oct. 2026
Written and directed by Jeremy Slater, the film follows Jefferson Haddock (Bacon), who is called into an isolated witness protection property to deal with a terrifying demon, unleashing a force that threatens to end him and everything around him.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of demon

Noun

The White House decision has heightened fears that Ukraine could be left exposed to Moscow's escalating attacks as winter approaches.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
That a self-image forged in the crucible of the fear of being ugly makes women amputate their talents?

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of fear

Noun

Indeed, at Cannes, Calvo sat through the screening in a state of torment.

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
But what her father left out of his memoir and Duong captured in her film was the untold torment of Ba leaving his mother, Nguyen Thị Bay, or grandmother Ba Noi, and close relatives behind in their ancestral village in Vietnam.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of torment

Noun

When the line between general unease with not knowing crosses into anxiety that interferes with daily life, people should seek professional help, said Dugas.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Given Abbey’s anxieties about spending money and fear of not having enough, Stacy plans to use very conservative assumptions for inflation, health costs and average returns when making her projections based on Abbey’s savings today.

— Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of anxiety

Noun

Long before the shooting, every school drop-off carried a quiet dread.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
With homes nearly toppling into the ocean and back-to-back floods and hurricanes amplifying our sense of dread, keeping track of all things El Niño can be overwhelming.

— Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of dread

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territory

terror

terrorism

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“Terror.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terror. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of terror

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Synonyms of terror

noun

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The History of the Word 'Terrorism'

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