horror

noun

HAWR-ur/ˈhɔɹ.ɚ/UKHOR-uh/ˈhɒɹ.ə/

6 meanings of horror

1
nouncountable or uncountable
A strong feeling of fear, shock, or disgust, or a strong dislike of something.
Like the cold feeling you get when you see something truly frightening.
She felt horror as the flames spread through the house.
He stared in horror at the twisted wreckage on the highway.
UsageSay watch in horror, or to my horror.
Similarterror, dread, fear, shock, dismay
2
noununcountable
Films, books, or games meant to scare people, or one such film or book.
Like a scary ride at a fair, where being frightened is the point.
She reads a lot of horror before bed, which seems like a bad idea.
Horror isn't for everyone, but he loves a good scare.
UsageOften used before a noun: a horror film, a horror story.
3
terrible thingnouncountable or uncountable
A terrible thing that makes people feel great fear and disgust.
Like a scene from a bad dream that you wish you could forget.
The battlefield was a horror that no one who saw it could forget.
Famine and disease were among the horrors of the long siege.
UsageOften say the horrors of war.
Similarnightmare, atrocity, abomination, monstrosity

Less common meanings

4
naughty personnouncolloquialcountable
A naughty or badly behaved person, often a child.
Like a kid who never listens and causes trouble everywhere.
That little horror tipped over every plant in the garden.
The twins were absolute horrors throughout the whole wedding.
UsageOften a little horror or an absolute horror.
Similarterror, menace, rascal, brat, monster
Oppositeangel
5
anxious low moodnouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
A feeling of deep worry or low mood that won't lift.
Like a heavy gray cloud of worry that won't go away.
After the party, she woke up with the horrors and felt anxious all day.
The horrors hit her every night, leaving her anxious and unable to sleep.
Similardread, anxiety
6
alcohol withdrawalnouncolloquialcountable or uncountableplural
The shaking, confusion, and seeing things that come from suddenly stopping heavy drinking.
Like a fever dream where you shake and see things that aren't really there.
After he quit drinking cold turkey, the horrors set in and he saw things on the walls.
Doctors watched him closely in case the horrors set in after he stopped drinking.

Practice

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Origin

It came from Latin horror, meaning a shaking or trembling from cold or fear, through Old French and Middle English.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

English horror came from Latin horror through Old French and Middle English. en.wiktionary.org
Latin horror meant shaking or trembling from cold or fear. en.wiktionary.org