terror Definition
ter·ror (ter′ər)
noun
- intense fear
- a person or thing causing intense fear
- the quality of causing such fear; terribleness
- a program of terrorism or a party, group, etc. resorting to terrorism
- Informal a very annoying or unmanageable person, esp. a child; nuisance; pest
Etymology: ME terrour < MFr terreur < L terror < terrere, to frighten < IE *ters-, to tremble (> Gr trein, to tremble, flee) < base *ter-, to wriggle
terror Synonyms
terror Usage Examples
Preposition: as
rip: Terror as car rips into house Tougher fines for litter louts Conclusive proof that you're never.. .
Converse of object
- unleash: Fright Nights are back for 2006 and this year promises to unleash more terror than ever before.
- instill: But it used to mean instilling terror and it still can given a subtle change of context.
- strike: For months there have been no reliable sightings of the man who has struck terror into the hearts of millions worldwide.
- defeat: Today's wave of destruction also underlines the futility of trying to defeat terror by ever more repressive legislation.
- spread: The tactic chosen by renegade loyalist Billy Wright of spreading terror by randomly choosing a victim had paid off.
Adjective modifier
- abject: She curled around her tawdry bag, whining piteously, abject terror in her wide staring eyes. she began to cry.
- sheer: Sheer terror every time Orient crossed the half way line.
- unreasoning: A mad, unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes.
- Stalinist: By the 1980s, the deportations and show trials and other aspects of the Stalinist terror were fading from public memory.
- unspeakable: Despite the sanctions, Saddam continued to impose " unspeakable terror and evil " on his own people.
Modifies a noun
- suspect: Use more control orders against British terror suspects, who cannot be deported Oh goody - house arrest for everyone.
- raid: Send us your stories | the Daily Mail Have you witnessed today's terror raids around London?
- attack: Or largest mosque in Ohio plans more terror attacks.
- alert: The BBC's ' Q&A: UK terror alert response ' has all you need to know.
- plot: Now, with the intercepted air terror plot in the news, his recommendation has been getting some attention.
- tactic: On the other hand, maybe that's where the terror tactics comes in.
Noun used with modifier
anti-: CCTV, car sensors, tracking inside our phones and id card movement tracking in the guise of anti- terror activity.
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