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terrified
/ˈtɛrɪfaɪd/
extremely frightened
She was terrified after watching the horror movie.
She felt extreme fear because of the horror movie.
neutral
extremely afraid or frightened
The child was terrified of the dark.
The child felt extreme fear in the dark.
He looked terrified when he saw the snake.
He appeared extremely frightened upon seeing the snake.
Used to describe a strong emotional reaction to a perceived threat or danger.
Collocations
terrified ofextremely afraid ofterrified byextremely frightened byabsolutely terrifiedcompletely frightened
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'terrified'
While 'terrified' is a strong word, using it too frequently can diminish its impact. Reserve it for situations where extreme fear is genuinely felt.
Gold Rule
Pair with strong emotions
'Terrified' works best when describing intense fear. Avoid using it for mild or moderate fear (e.g., not 'I'm a little terrified of spiders').
Word Origin
From Latin *terrificus* (causing fear), from *terrere* (to frighten) + *-ficus* (making). Entered English in the late 16th century as 'terrific' (frightening), with 'terrified' emerging later as the past participle.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to emphasize a high level of fear. Often paired with 'of' or 'by' to specify the source of fear.
Word Breakdown
terr-
from Latin *terrere* (to frighten)
root-ify
to make or cause
suffix-ed
past participle suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary