Word
horrified
Phoneticshor·ri·fied
US/ˈhɔɹəˌfaɪd/
UK/hˈɒɹɪfˌaɪd/
Definition
adj. feeling very shocked and scared because something very bad or unpleasant has happened.
adj. experiencing a strong feeling of shock, fear, or disgust in response to something perceived as terrible or morally wrong.
Examples
“She was horrified by the news of the accident.”
“The witnesses stood in silence, horrified by the sudden collapse of the old bridge during the storm.”
“The public was deeply horrified by the revelations in the documentary, which exposed the systemic neglect within the city's oldest healthcare facilities.”
Examples
simple
“She was horrified by the news of the accident.”
contextual
“The witnesses stood in silence, horrified by the sudden collapse of the old bridge during the storm.”
complex
“The public was deeply horrified by the revelations in the documentary, which exposed the systemic neglect within the city's oldest healthcare facilities.”
Usage
often followed by the prepositions 'by' or 'at'
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'scared'; explain that 'horrified' implies a deeper sense of shock or moral disgust rather than just physical fear.
Pitfall
I was horrifying by the news.
I was horrified by the news.
Use 'horrified' to describe how a person feels. Use 'horrifying' to describe the thing that causes the feeling.
Real-World Examples
“Osman has told the court she was “scared” and “horrified” when the council put them in the top-floor flat, which needed repairs, because her son had “no sense of danger”.” “When Kellor visited work sites throughout New York State, she was horrified by what she saw.” Synonyms
Antonyms
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/horrified