terrorize

verb

ter·​ror·​ize ˈter-ər-ˌīz How to pronounce terrorize (audio)
terrorized; terrorizing

transitive verb

1
: to fill with terror or anxiety : scare
2
: to coerce by threat or violence
terrorization noun

Examples of terrorize in a Sentence

As a child she terrorized her younger siblings. She was terrorized by nightmares. Employees were terrorized into accepting abysmal working conditions.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
After falling in with a group of troublemaking teens, a clown that resembles Frendo, the factory’s mascot, begins terrorizing the town and targeting Quinn and her buddies. William Earl, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025 Fred Hechinger stars as the too-earnest counselor while Wolfhard, Bryk, and more young actors are there to surely terrorize him before a masked killer terrorizes them. Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 5 Apr. 2025 But Washington has made no attempt to reward these efforts, instead freezing assistance to communities terrorized by ISIS and suspending programs that supported Iraq’s economic development. Dana Stroul, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2025 Leadership allowed those a******* to take over the campus and terrorize Jewish students. Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for terrorize

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of terrorize was in 1823

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Terrorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrorize. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

terrorize

verb
ter·​ror·​ize ˈter-ər-ˌīz How to pronounce terrorize (audio)
terrorized; terrorizing
1
: to fill with terror
2
: to force by threat or violence
terrorization noun

Legal Definition

terrorize

transitive verb
ter·​ror·​ize ˈter-ər-ˌīz How to pronounce terrorize (audio)
terrorized; terrorizing
: to inflict terror upon
terrorization noun

More from Merriam-Webster on terrorize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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