terrorise
Instill persistent dread
Terrorise is the British spelling of terrorize.
To terrorise is to fill with terror through threats, violence, or intimidation: The gang terrorised the neighbourhood for months.
It can describe systematic campaigns of fear or individual acts of cruelty: He terrorised his younger siblings.
The word implies sustained or repeated frightening, not a single scare.
Habitual intimidator
- coerceObtain by intimidation
- menaceSource of potential harm
- threatenPromise harm or punishment
- browbeatIntimidate through pressure
cow · tyrannize · strong-arm · pressure · bulldoze · steamroller · dragoon · hound
Cause intense revulsion
- petrifyFossilize or paralyze utterly
- frightenCause sudden alarm
- scareCause sudden fright
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
shock · haunt · torment · disturb · distress · unnerve · shatter · devastate
bully
Habitual intimidator
browbeat · cow · tyrannize · strong-arm · pressure · bulldoze · steamroller · dragoon · hound · badger
horrify
Cause intense revulsion
panic · shock · haunt · torment · disturb · distress · unnerve · shatter · devastate · paralyze
subjugate
Bring under dominion
overpower · enslave · suppress · subdue · crush · rule · dominate · lord over · hold hostage · dictate
bomb
Explosive device or disaster
strike · hijack · kidnap · massacre · rampage · siege · sabotage · detonate · execute · slaughter
terrorisereassure
Ease someone's doubts
comfort · calm · soothe · pacify · tranquilize
- terrorist attackViolence for political intimidation
- domestic terrorismPolitically motivated violence by citizens
- terrorist cellClandestine group planning attacks
- terrorist actsViolence to spread fear
- homegrown terrorismNative-born political violence
- cyber terrorismInternet-based political violence