terrorizing
Inspiring intense fear
Terrorizing is creating intense fear through threats or violence.
A bully terrorizes classmates; an invading army terrorizes civilians.
The word implies sustained intimidation rather than a single frightening moment: The gang had been terrorizing the neighborhood for months.
Casual use describes anything persistently annoying or distressing: My cat has been terrorizing the houseplants.
Inspiring terror or alarm
- scaringInducing sudden fear
- alarmingProvoking fear or anxiety
- petrifyingInducing paralytic terror
- horrifyingCausing extreme fear
panicking · unnerving · rattling · spooking · startling · chilling · daunting · dismaying
Conveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- browbeatingIntimidating with stern pressure
harassment · cowing · badgering · hounding · pressuring · tormenting · persecuting · victimizing
Forcing into submission
- oppressingUnjustly burdening or controlling
- tyrannizingRuling with cruel authority
- repressingSubduing into unconsciousness
- controllingExerting authority over others
suppressing · enslaving · crushing · conquering · ruling · dictating · commanding · dominating
Actively engaging offensively
- assaultingAttacking someone physically
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- endangeringCreating risk of harm
- harmingCausing injury or damage
brutalizing · savaging · ravaging · pillaging · raiding · marauding · plundering · rampaging
frightening
Inspiring terror or alarm
- scaringInducing sudden fear
- alarmingProvoking fear or anxiety
- petrifyingInducing paralytic terror
horrifying · panicking · unnerving · rattling · spooking · startling · chilling · daunting · dismaying · appalling
menacing
Conveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
browbeating · harassment · cowing · badgering · hounding · pressuring · tormenting · persecuting · victimizing · stalking
subjugating
Forcing into submission
- oppressingUnjustly burdening or controlling
- tyrannizingRuling with cruel authority
- repressingSubduing into unconsciousness
controlling · suppressing · enslaving · crushing · conquering · ruling · dictating · commanding · dominating · overpowering
attacking
Actively engaging offensively
- assaultingAttacking someone physically
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- endangeringCreating risk of harm
harming · brutalizing · savaging · ravaging · pillaging · raiding · marauding · plundering · rampaging · devastating
nightmarish
Frightening like bad dreams
- ghoulishFascinated by death grotesquely
- macabreDisturbing, death-obsessed
- gruesomeCausing horror and disgust
monstrous · demonic · fiendish · diabolical · sinister · malevolent · sadistic · cruel · vicious · bloodcurdling
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- abusemistreatment, domestic abuse, elder abuse, maltreatment, cruelty
- coercionduress, coercing, compelling, threat, forcing
- crueltycruelty, brutality, inhumanity, viciousness, ruthlessness
- manipulationgaslighting, guilt tripping, blame-shifting, brainwashing, guilt trip
- thuggerybullying, intimidation, strong-arming, menacing, threatening
terrorizingreassuring
Restoring calm or confidence
calming · comforting · soothing · assuaging · pacifying
terrorizingprotecting
Keeping from harm
safeguarding · sheltering · defending · nurturing · caring for
terrible, terror, terrific, terrify, terrifying, terrified, terrorize, deterrent, terrorized