terror
Definitions
Intense, overwhelming fear
极度恐惧，惊骇
Violence and intimidation used to create fear, esp. for political ends
（尤指政治目的的）恐怖活动，恐怖主义
A person or thing that causes great fear (sometimes playful)
令人生畏的人或物（有时戏谑）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedterr- (from terrēre, 'frighten') + -or (state) = the state of being frightened, intense fear. From the personal feeling it extends to organized, weaponized fear ('reign of terror,' 'terror attack'), the source of terrorist and terrorism.
Root terrere still carries 8 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.reign of terror恐怖统治
- 2.terror attack恐怖袭击
- 3.strike terror into使……心生恐惧
- 4.in terror惊恐万分地
Example Sentences
- 1.
She froze in terror as the dog charged toward her.
- 2.
The dictator ruled through a reign of terror.
- 3.
The city was shaken by a terror attack.
Synonym Comparison
- terror — the most extreme: paralyzing, overwhelming fear
- fear — the broad, neutral word for the feeling at any level
- fright — a sudden, sharp scare ('she got a fright')
- dread — fear of something coming, anticipatory ('dread of the exam')
- panic — fear that destroys self-control, often in a crowd