plural terrors
1
: a state of intense or overwhelming fear
overcome by terror
people fleeing the scene in terror
He lived in terror of being caught.
2
: violence or the threat of violence used as a weapon of intimidation or coercion
a regime that rules by terror
especially
: violent or destructive acts (such as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands
an act of terror
the war on terror
—sometimes used before another noun a terror attack
3
: a very frightening or terrifying aspect
the terrors of war
4
a
: someone or something that inspires fear : scourge
I stood before fierce Mrs. Mabel Johnston, his secretary and the terror of the office.—
Russell Baker
Russell BakerBefore rifles were available to Eskimo hunters, bears were truly the terror of their existence.—Charles T. Feazel
Charles T. Feazel
b
informal
: an extremely disruptive or annoying person or thing
5
Examples of terror in a Sentence
The sound of guns being fired fills me with terror.
Many civilians fled in terror.
a terror that is still fresh in her memory
the terrors of life in the jungle
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 campaign of terror against ethnic minority groups
Recent Examples on the Web
The incidents have dramatically increased after Oct. 7 (Hamas terror attacks), but the trend was already increasing prior to that.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2025
The gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019 will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history and the worst domestic terror attack on Hispanics that the country has ever seen.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
The massive spike in antisemitic incidents that followed the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks in 2023 continued last year, according to data compiled by the Anti-Defamation League.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 22 Apr. 2025
In Bragg’s case, the Maryland Ivy League grad has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and terror offenses, which carry the possibility of life without parole.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terror
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2025
The gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019 will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history and the worst domestic terror attack on Hispanics that the country has ever seen.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
The massive spike in antisemitic incidents that followed the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks in 2023 continued last year, according to data compiled by the Anti-Defamation League.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 22 Apr. 2025
In Bragg’s case, the Maryland Ivy League grad has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and terror offenses, which carry the possibility of life without parole.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terror
Cite this Entry
“Terror.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terror. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
terror
noun
ter·ror
ˈter-ər 
1
: a state of great fear
2
: a cause of great fear
3
a
: a dreadful person or thing
b
informal
: an unruly child
4
: violent or destructive acts (as bombing) committed by a group as a way of achieving its goals
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