terror
UK: ˈtɛrə | US: ˈtɛrər
n. extreme fear
n. a person or thing causing extreme fear
n. (historical) a period of violent political repression (e.g., "Reign of Terror")
The word terror traces back to Latin terror (great fear), derived from terrēre. It entered Middle English via Old French terreur. The root terr- consistently conveys fear across related words (e.g., terrify, deter). Historically, it gained political connotations during the French Revolution ("Reign of Terror"), linking fear to systematic violence.
The villagers fled in terror when the volcano erupted.
The horror movie was filled with scenes of pure terror.
The dictator ruled by terror, suppressing all opposition.
She felt a surge of terror when she heard footsteps behind her.
The terrorist attack spread terror throughout the city.