French word

terroriser

Pronunciation

IPA/tɛʁoʁize/

Meaning

  • verbscare

Example

Il ne faut pas terroriser les enfants.

You must not scare the children.

Illustration for terroriser (scare)

More examples

Il est facile de terroriser quelqu'un avec de fausses histoires.

It is easy to terrify someone with false stories.

Core concept

A bully's threat leaves a child frozen, shaking, or running for the door.

Common phrases

  • terroriser quelqu'un

    terrify someone

  • terroriser les enfants

    terrify children

Similar words

faire peur: To cause mild surprise or temporary fear.
effrayer: To frighten someone briefly and startle them.
menacer: To frighten someone by warning of harm or disadvantage.
intimider: To frighten someone through threatening words or an imposing manner.

Definition in French

Provoquer chez quelqu'un une peur très forte qui bloque ses réactions ou le pousse à fuir.

Word origin

Terroriser is formed from French terreur with the suffix -iser and ultimately comes from Latin terrere, meaning to frighten.

Usage tips

  • Terroriser takes a direct object, as in terroriser les enfants, whereas faire peur uses à, as in faire peur aux enfants.

Other meanings

  • intimidateverb
  • terrifyverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word