# horrifying

/ˈhɔɹəˌfaɪɪŋ/ (US) · /hˈɒɹɪfˌaɪɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/horrifying
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. shocking or scary

adjective · CEFR B2

causing a feeling of great shock, fear, or disgust.

For teachers: tending to inspire horror or intense shock; often used to describe events, news, or visual scenes that are deeply disturbing.

- The news reported a horrifying accident on the motorway this morning.
- Witnesses provided horrifying accounts of the building's collapse, describing the panic that ensued as the structure began to groan and tilt.

## Examples

- The news reported a horrifying accident on the highway.
- Witnesses described the scene as horrifying, with smoke and fire visible from several blocks away.
- The documentary provides a horrifying account of the famine, using archival footage to illustrate the sheer scale of human suffering during that decade.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.