# terrorize

/ˈtɛɹɝˌaɪz/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/terrorize
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

to frighten people in a very cruel or violent way. It often involves using threats or force to make people feel unsafe.

For teachers: to subject someone to persistent intimidation, threats, or violence. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the victims or the location being targeted.

## Examples

- The gang tried to terrorize the local shopkeepers.
- The local community was terrorized by a series of break-ins that occurred every night for a month.
- The regime sought to terrorize the population into silence, using arbitrary arrests and public executions as tools of psychological control to suppress any dissent.

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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.