DictionaryAI

horror

noun
HAWR-ur/ˈhɔɹ.ɚ/UKHOR-uh/ˈhɒɹ.ə/

Pluralhorrors

6 meanings of horror

Practice

  1. 1
    nouncountable or uncountable
    An intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust; also, a strong dread or dislike of something.

    A wave of horror swept over the crowd as the news broke.

    He watched in horror as his phone slipped from his hand and into the lake.

    UsageOften in horror after watch or stare, or to my horror; you feel horror at something or have a horror of it.

    Similarterror, dread, fear, shock, dismay

  2. 2
    noununcountable
    A genre of fiction, film, or games intended to frighten and disturb its audience; also, a single work in this genre.

    Modern horror often blends supernatural dread with psychological tension.

    The festival celebrates horror across film, fiction, and graphic novels.

    UsageOften before another noun: a horror film, a horror story, a horror fan.

  3. 3
    terrible thingnouncountable or uncountable
    Something horrible: a thing that provokes intense fear and revulsion.

    The abandoned hospital was a horror beyond anything they had imagined.

    Visitors recoiled from the horrors displayed in the museum's war wing.

    UsageOften plural in the horrors of something: the horrors of war.

    Similarnightmare, atrocity, abomination, monstrosity

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    naughty personnouncolloquialcountable
    An unpleasant, unruly person who causes trouble; a rascal.

    Their youngest is a real horror who never sits still for a moment.

    The new recruits were a pack of horrors who ignored every rule.

    UsageOften a little horror or a real horror, especially about a badly behaved child.

    Similarterror, menace, rascal, brat, monster

    Oppositeangel

  2. 5
    anxious low moodnouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
    An intense anxiety or nervous depression, often occurring as 'the horrors.'

    He'd had the horrors for weeks and was too anxious to eat or sleep.

    By the third sleepless week the horrors had taken hold, and dread colored everything.

    Similardread, anxiety

  3. 6
    alcohol withdrawalnouncolloquialcountable or uncountableplural
    Delirium tremens; the tremors, confusion, and hallucinations brought on by withdrawal from heavy alcohol use.

    Two days after his last drink, the horrors descended and the visions began.

    In the old days, heavy drinkers who suddenly went dry often came down with the horrors.

Practice

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Origin

This word came through Middle English horrour and Old French horror from Latin horror, meaning "a bristling, shaking, or trembling as with cold or fear," from the verb horrere ("to bristle, shake, be terrified"). It displaced the native Old English word ōga.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

  • English horror came through Middle English horrour and Old French horror from Latin horror. en.wiktionary.org
  • Latin horror meant bristling, shaking, or trembling as with cold or fear. en.wiktionary.org
  • Latin horror derives from horrere, meaning to bristle, shake, or be terrified. en.wiktionary.org
  • Horror displaced the native Old English word ōga. en.wiktionary.org