nightmarish
UK: ˈnaɪtmeərɪʃ | US: ˈnaɪtmerɪʃ
adj. resembling or characteristic of a nightmare; frighteningly unreal or unpleasant
adj. extremely distressing or terrifying
nightmarish = nightmare<bad dream> + ish<adjective suffix>
- nightmare: Combines "night" (from Old English niht, meaning "night") + "mare" (from Old English mære, meaning "a goblin or evil spirit believed to suffocate sleepers"). Historically, it referred to a demon causing suffocating dreams, later generalized to "bad dream."
- ish: A suffix of Germanic origin (Old English -isc) used to form adjectives meaning "having the quality of" (e.g., childish, foolish).
Etymology Origin:
The word "nightmarish" evolved from "nightmare," which originally described supernatural oppression during sleep (a literal "night demon"). By the 16th century, "nightmare" shifted to mean "bad dream," and the suffix "-ish" was added to describe things evoking the terrifying, surreal quality of such dreams. The progression reflects a blend of folklore and psychological experience.
The abandoned hospital had a nightmarish atmosphere, with flickering lights and eerie silence.
His fever induced nightmarish hallucinations of shadowy figures.
The war documentary depicted nightmarish scenes of destruction.
She woke up from a nightmarish dream, her heart racing.
The artist’s paintings often explore nightmarish landscapes filled with twisted creatures.