Terrified

Experiencing extreme or overwhelming fear; filled with intense dread and alarm. Terrified implies a state beyond simple fear, suggesting a reaction that can be debilitating and paralyzing. It describes a feeling that something awful is about to happen or is happening, causing a loss of control and the potential for a strong physical response like trembling or screaming. The emotion can arise suddenly, triggered by a perceived threat, or build over time as apprehension increases to an unbearable level. It represents the most extreme point on the spectrum of fear.

Terrified meaning with examples

• She was Terrified of public speaking, her voice trembling and her palms sweating as she approached the microphone for her presentation about the upcoming local elections.
• The hikers were Terrified when they realised they were completely lost in the dense, unfamiliar forest as daylight began to quickly fade behind distant mountain peaks.
• He was Terrified by the nightmare; he shot up in bed with a gasp and a scream, his heart pounding loudly in his chest and his skin soaked with cold sweat.
• The children were Terrified of the clown at the circus, his exaggerated features and booming laugh a stark and unsettling contrast to the rest of the jovial act.
• I was Terrified during the turbulence on the flight; I gripped the armrests, shut my eyes tight, and prayed that the pilot would steer us through it safely.