Word
petrified
Phoneticspet·ri·fied
US/ˈpɛtɹəˌfaɪd/
UK/pˈɛtɹɪfˌaɪd/
Definition
adj. feeling so scared that you cannot move or think clearly. It can also describe wood or other living things that have turned into stone over a very long time.
adj. extremely frightened and unable to move or act; alternatively, organic matter converted into a stony substance by mineral infiltration. Often used predicatively to describe an emotional state.
Examples
“She stood petrified as the large dog ran toward her.”
“The hikers were petrified when they realized they had lost the trail just as the sun began to set.”
“While the museum is famous for its collection of petrified wood, most visitors are more drawn to the vivid accounts of explorers who were petrified by the region's unpredictable wildlife.”
Examples
simple
“She stood petrified as the large dog ran toward her.”
contextual
“The hikers were petrified when they realized they had lost the trail just as the sun began to set.”
complex
“While the museum is famous for its collection of petrified wood, most visitors are more drawn to the vivid accounts of explorers who were petrified by the region's unpredictable wildlife.”
Usage
When describing fear, it often follows linking verbs like 'be', 'feel', or 'seem'.
Pitfall
I was petrified from the movie
I was petrified by the movie
When describing the cause of fear, use 'by' or 'of' (e.g., 'petrified of heights') rather than 'from'.
Real-World Examples
“The Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona is so named for its unique and plentiful petrified wood, formed from conifer trees that lived there some 225 million years ago.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/petrified