terrifyingly

IPA/ˈterɪfaɪɪŋli/
IPA/ˈterɪfaɪɪŋli/

terrifyingly — adverb

1. used to say that an action, quality, or situation causes a very strong feeling o

1.adverbB2
Definition

used to say that an action, quality, or situation causes a very strong feeling of fear or dread in people.

Example

The surgeon's hands shook terrifyingly as he prepared the emergency operation.

verb + terrifyingly (manner)

The hospital bill was terrifyingly high for a family with no insurance.

terrifyingly + adjective (degree)

Common collocations
  • terrifyingly loud
  • terrifyingly fast
  • terrifyingly high
  • terrifyingly close
  • terrifyingly clear
  • shook terrifyingly
  • screamed terrifyingly
  • stared terrifyingly
Synonyms
  • frighteningly

    very similar in meaning; slightly weaker and more common in everyday speech

  • horrifyingly

    stronger, suggesting shock or disgust rather than simple fear

  • alarmingly

    focuses on causing sudden worry rather than deep fear; often used for statistics or trends

Antonyms
  • reassuringly

    in a way that makes people feel less worried or afraid

  • comfortingly

    in a way that gives comfort and reduces fear

Grammar Patterns

terrifyingly + adjective

verb + terrifyingly

Usage Note

Commonly modifies adjectives of scale or intensity (loud, high, fast, low, expensive, difficult) to stress an extreme degree. Also used with verbs describing visible reactions (shake, tremble, scream, stare).

Common Mistakes

The storm was terrifyingly.
The storm was terrifying.
'terrifyingly' is an adverb, so it needs a verb or adjective to modify; do not use it alone after a linking verb.
He terrifyingly shouted at the dog.
He shouted terrifyingly at the dog.' or 'He terrified the dog with his shouting.
place 'terrifyingly' after the verb when describing manner, not before a transitive verb.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four adverbs intensify the degree or manner of an action or quality by linking it to fear, but they differ in tone and context. 'Frighteningly' is the most neutral — it fits both speech and writing ('frighteningly expensive'). 'Horrifyingly' is stronger, carrying a sense of shock or moral outrage ('horrifyingly violent'). 'Alarmingly' focuses on causing sudden worry, often used with statistics or trends ('alarmingly fast population growth'). 'Terribly' is the mildest and most versatile — it can mean 'very badly' or simply 'very' in informal British English. Use 'terrifyingly' for the strongest sense: when the degree or manner is so extreme that it provokes raw fear, not just concern or distaste.

frighteningly ↗horrifyinglyalarmingly ↗terribly ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • terrifyingly loud noise
  • terrifyingly fast pace
  • terrifyingly expensive cost

Adverbs

  • truly terrifyingly
  • absolutely terrifyingly
  • quite terrifyingly

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Derived from the adjective 'terrifying' — the present participle of the verb 'terrify', which comes from Latin 'terrere' meaning 'to frighten' — combined with the adverb-forming suffix '-ly'. The base verb 'terrify' entered English in the late 1500s through French, and speakers later added '-ly' to create an adverb form describing actions or qualities that cause fear to an extreme degree.

First known use

1586

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1