Horrifying
ˈhɒrɪfaɪɪŋ
Definitions
Causing intense feelings of fear, shock, or disgust.
ˈhɒrɪfaɪɪŋ
Causing extreme fear and disgust.
The accident scene was horrifying.
💡 Simply: Imagine seeing something so scary or disgusting that it gives you chills and makes you want to look away. Like, if you saw a giant spider crawling on your pillow!
👶 For kids: Making you feel very scared and grossed out.
More Examples
The movie had some horrifying special effects.
She described her experience as horrifying.
How It's Used
"The news described the horrifying details of the attack."
"The author painted a horrifying picture of the dystopian future."
"I had a horrifying experience when the car nearly crashed."
Idioms & expressions
Horror-struck
Filled with horror or extreme fear.
"The children stood horror-struck as they watched the fire engulf the building."
From the verb "horrify," which comes from the Latin word "horrēre" meaning "to shudder, be afraid." The suffix "-ing" is added to form the present participle and adjective.
The word 'horrifying' and the verb 'horrify' emerged in the 18th century, related to the rise of Gothic literature and a growing interest in emotions of fear and terror.
Memory tip
Think of something that makes you want to hide under the covers and scream.