Terror
Guillotine era's name
Terror is intense fear, often tied to sudden or overwhelming threats.
Historically, the term gained prominence during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror (1793–94), when mass executions were used to enforce political control.
In psychology, terror differs from anxiety by its immediacy and focus on a specific threat.
The word also appears in military contexts, such as terror bombing, where attacks aim to demoralize civilians rather than achieve direct tactical goals.
The villagers fled in terror as the invaders approached.
Emotional response to threat
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- frightSudden intense fear
alarm · anguish · trepidation · paralysis · shock · hysteria · trembling · nightmares
Frightening dream causing wakefulness
- boogeymanFrightening figure for children
- monsterFrightening imaginary creature
- darknessTotal absence of light
- closetBuilt-in storage chamber
shadows · bedtime · screaming · crying · imagination · sleepwalking · reassurance · fear of dark
Ideology beyond accepted norms
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- bombingAttack with explosives
- attackAggressive act against another
- counterterrorismCombating organized political violence
radicalization · cell · propaganda · surveillance · jihad · militia · guerrilla · assassination
Disturbingly unforgettable
- ghostApparition of the dead
- demonMalevolent supernatural being
- possessionState of owning
- paranormalBeyond scientific explanation
poltergeist · exorcism · apparition · specter · curse · occult · witchcraft · séance
Unjust exercise of power
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- purgeEliminate unwanted elements
totalitarianism · secret police · gulag · execution · torture · genocide · deportation · Robespierre
fear
Emotional response to threat
fright · alarm · anguish · trepidation · paralysis · shock · hysteria · trembling · nightmares · phobia
nightmare
Frightening dream causing wakefulness
- boogeymanFrightening figure for children
- monsterFrightening imaginary creature
- darknessTotal absence of light
closet · shadows · bedtime · screaming · crying · imagination · sleepwalking · reassurance · fear of dark · under the bed
extremism
Ideology beyond accepted norms
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- bombingAttack with explosives
- attackAggressive act against another
counterterrorism · radicalization · cell · propaganda · surveillance · jihad · militia · guerrilla · assassination · hostage
haunting
Disturbingly unforgettable
- ghostApparition of the dead
- demonMalevolent supernatural being
- possessionState of owning
paranormal · poltergeist · exorcism · apparition · specter · curse · occult · witchcraft · séance · omen
oppression
Unjust exercise of power
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
purge · totalitarianism · secret police · gulag · execution · torture · genocide · deportation · Robespierre · guillotine
- MTG CardsIsland, Plains, Mountain
- personificationsMother Nature, Father Time, Grim Reaper, Lady Luck, Lady Justice
- French HistoryNapoleon Bonaparte, French Revolution, Napoleon, Bastille, Charles de Gaulle
- French RevolutionBastille, guillotine, Robespierre, French Revolution, Marie Antoinette
- PoeThe Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, Annabel Lee, The Black Cat, Lenore
- Revolutionary WarsFrench Republic, revolutionary army, coalition forces, Napoleon Bonaparte, British forces
Terrorsecurity
Protection from threat
safety · protection · assurance · confidence · shelter
Terrorfearlessness
Complete lack of dread
courage · bravery · boldness · intrepidity · valor
- I feel terribleExpression of distress
- terrible twosChallenging toddler developmental stage
- holy terrorUncontrollable troublesome child
- psychological terrorFear through atmosphere and suggestion
- something terribleA very bad thing
- night terrorsFrightening partial-arousal episodes
terrors, terrorize, terrorized, terrorizing, terrorizes, terrorism, terrorist, terrorists, terroristic