terrifying
UK: ˈterɪfaɪɪŋ | US: ˈterəfaɪɪŋ
adj. causing extreme fear or dread
adj. intensely frightening or shocking
The word "terrifying" derives from the Latin root terr- (from terrere, meaning "to frighten"), combined with the verb-forming suffix -ify (from Latin -ificare, meaning "to make"). The suffix -ing turns the verb into an adjective, describing something that causes fear. The progression reflects a logical transformation: "to frighten" → "to make frightened" → "causing fright."
The horror movie was so terrifying that I couldn’t sleep.
She gave a terrifying account of her near-death experience.
The storm’s roaring winds were truly terrifying.
His sudden outburst was terrifying to the children.
The thought of failing the exam is terrifying for many students.