Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

terrifying

/ˈtɛɹɪfaɪ.ɪŋ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.95 in modern English

Syllables: ter-ri-fy-ing
IPA: /ˈtɛɹɪfaɪ.ɪŋ/

17

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Frightening or intimidating.

adj

Of a formidable nature; terrific.

verb

present participle and gerund of terrify

Example Sentences

"terrifying creature"
"terrifying dream"
"terrifying film"
"terrifying ride"
"terrifying story"
"Penguin colonies that number in millions; nights that run into days, and days that run into nights; katabatic winds that scream down the ice sheets at a terrifying 180 miles per hour, and then remain equally terrifyingly still."

Inflected Forms

more terrifying (comparative) most terrifying (superlative)

Derived Forms

terrifyingly terrifyingness unterrifying

Frequently Paired Words

terrify terror

Synonyms

affreux alarming spine-tingling appalling awful eldritch buggish butt-clenching buttock-clenching dismayful dreadful fearful

Rhymes With

clarifying verifying

Questions

How do you pronounce terrifying?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈtɛɹɪfaɪ.ɪŋ/.
What does terrifying mean?: Frightening or intimidating.

How to pronounce terrifying

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “terrifying”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈtɛɹɪfaɪ.ɪŋ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “terrifying”.
Repeat and practice — Say “terrifying” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.