nightmares
Sleep's dark visitors
Nightmares are frightening dreams that wake the sleeper or leave a strong impression of distress.
The word extends to any terrifying or deeply unpleasant experience: The move was a nightmare from start to finish.
Something nightmarish has the dark, surreal quality of a bad dream.
She still has nightmares about the accident.
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- frightSudden intense fear
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
phobia · anxiety · trauma · distress · scream · cold sweat · heart-pounding · paralysis
Total absence of light
- shadowLight blocked by object
- monsterFrightening imaginary creature
- demonMalevolent supernatural being
- creatureLiving, sentient entity
abyss · labyrinth · falling · drowning · chase · teeth · blood · death
Temporary waking immobility
- REM sleepDreaming stage with eye movement
- insomniaPersistent inability to rest
- restless sleepDisturbed, broken slumber
- sleepwalkingAmbulatory behavior during slumber
somnambulism · sleep cycle · thrashing · waking · bedtime · recurring dreams · vivid dreams · lucid dreams
Lasting psychological wound
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- subconsciousBelow conscious awareness
repression · childhood · therapy · recurring · symbolic · Freudian · Jung · interpretation
Malevolent supernatural being
- incubusMale demon of sleep
- succubusFemale demon seducing sleepers
- possessionState of owning
- hauntingDisturbingly unforgettable
ghost · specter · apparition · curse · evil spirit · sleep demon · mare · old hag
Difficult, painful experience
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- hellishExtremely unpleasant or cruel
- harrowingExtremely distressing or disturbing
grueling · agonizing · unbearable · worst-case · disaster · catastrophe · endless · inescapable
terror
Extreme, overwhelming fear
panic · phobia · anxiety · trauma · distress · scream · cold sweat · heart-pounding · paralysis · helplessness
darkness
Total absence of light
- shadowLight blocked by object
- monsterFrightening imaginary creature
- demonMalevolent supernatural being
creature · abyss · labyrinth · falling · drowning · chase · teeth · blood · death · faceless
sleep paralysis
Temporary waking immobility
- REM sleepDreaming stage with eye movement
- insomniaPersistent inability to rest
- restless sleepDisturbed, broken slumber
sleepwalking · somnambulism · sleep cycle · thrashing · waking · bedtime · recurring dreams · vivid dreams · lucid dreams · sleep deprivation
trauma
Lasting psychological wound
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
subconscious · repression · childhood · therapy · recurring · symbolic · Freudian · Jung · interpretation · unresolved
demon
Malevolent supernatural being
- incubusMale demon of sleep
- succubusFemale demon seducing sleepers
- possessionState of owning
haunting · ghost · specter · apparition · curse · evil spirit · sleep demon · mare · old hag · shadow person
ordeal
Difficult, painful experience
harrowing · grueling · agonizing · unbearable · worst-case · disaster · catastrophe · endless · inescapable · kafkaesque
- Nightmoon, stars, moonlight, starlight, midnight
- dreamsdreaming, daydream, dreams, lucid dream, daydreams
- fearsspiders, snakes, falling, heights, death
- nocturnal activityprowling, stalking, owl calls, cricket chirping, frog calls
- side effectsnausea, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, rash
- sleep problemsinsomnia, sleep apnea, hypersomnia, restless legs, narcolepsy
nightmaresdreams come true
Desired outcomes materialize
dream come true · fantasies · fairy tales · heaven · paradise
- nightmare imageryFrightening mental pictures during sleep
- nightmare scenarioMost feared potential outcome
- nightmare fuelDisturbing imagery causing sleeplessness
- logistical nightmareSeverely complicated coordination problem
- nightmare worldTerrifying imagined realm
- kitchen nightmares
nightmarish, nightmarishness, nightmarishly, nightmare fuel, nightmare