Terror can mean intensevery strong or extreme in degree fear, something or someone that causes fear, or the use of fear to controlinfluence or direct the behavior of others people. It can also be used informally for a very troublesomecausing difficulty, annoyance, or problems child.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈtɛrər/
Easy pronunciation: TER-er (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
This uses the sense meaning very strong fear.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Terror Meaning
very strong fear
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
Example: She froze in terror when she heard the noise.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- panic — A strong and practical substitute for the feeling of extreme fear.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Terror
Meaning 2
someone or something that makes people afraid
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a person who inspires fear or dread
Example: He was the terror of the neighborhood.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- scourge — Can fit when someone is seen as a harmful menace, though it is less direct than terror.
- threat — Works when the person or thing is viewed as dangerous, but it is not a perfect synonym for the noun sense.
Meaning 3
a child who is hard to handle
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a very troublesome child
Example: Their youngest son was a little terror at dinner time.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- brat — A close informal substitute for a badly behaved child.
- holy terror — An idiomatic phrase for a very naughty or disruptive child.
- little terror — An idiomatic phrase used for a troublesome child.
Meaning 4
violence or threats used to scare people into obeying
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the use of extreme fear in order to coerce people, especially for political reasons
Example: The group used terror to control the area.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Terror Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- panic
a person who inspires fear or dread
- scourge
- threat
a very troublesome child
- brat
- holy terror
- little terror
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Terror does not usually mean the same as general danger; it specifically involves fear or intimidation.
- Do not use terror as a synonym for a troublesome child unless the child is being described informally and figuratively.
- The political sense of terror is not the same as the feeling of terror.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does terror mean?
Terror usually means extreme fear. It can also mean a person or thing that causes fear, the use of fear to control others, or an informal way to describe a very troublesome child.
What are the best synonyms for terror?
For the feeling sense, panic is the closest common synonym. Other senses have different words, such as scourge or threat for a feared person or thing, and brat for a troublesome child.
Is terror always negative?
Usually yes. It describes fear, intimidation, or someone or something unpleasant and frightening.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.