terror

terror — noun

1. an extremely strong and sudden feeling of being frightened, or a person or thing

1.名詞B1
釋義

an extremely strong and sudden feeling of being frightened, or a person or thing that causes this feeling

例句

Niran felt a wave of terror when the giant dog ran toward him.

uncountable: feel a wave of terror

The villagers lived in terror of the armed groups controlling the area.

grammar pattern: in terror of [someone/something]

同義詞
  • fear

    A more general, everyday word; can be mild or strong. Terror is always extreme.

  • dread

    Focuses on fear of a future event rather than an immediate threat.

  • horror

    Combines fear with shock or disgust, often at something violent or cruel.

反義詞
  • calm

    A state of being free from fear or agitation.

  • courage

    The ability to act in the face of fear, as opposed to being overwhelmed by it.

文法句型

in terror

terror of something/someone

a/that terror (countable, frightening entity)

用法筆記

Uncountable when referring to the feeling itself (She was frozen with terror). Becomes countable when pointing to a specific cause of fear (The old bridge was a terror to cross).

常見錯誤

❌I felt terror when I saw the spider in the bath.
✅I felt terror when the car lost control on the mountain road.
💡Terror describes overwhelming, paralysing fear, not everyday frights or mild anxiety.

2. frightening acts of violence directed at the general public, intended to achieve

2.名詞B2
釋義

frightening acts of violence directed at the general public, intended to achieve political outcomes by creating widespread fear

例句

The government passed new laws to fight against terror after the bombing.

collocation: fight against terror

Many innocent families were forced to flee their homes because of terror.

同義詞
  • terrorism

    A more formal term for the same concept; emphasises the systematic or ideological nature of the violence.

  • intimidation

    A broader term; can be non-violent and personal, not necessarily political.

  • coercion

    Focuses on forcing someone to act a certain way, not necessarily through violence or fear.

反義詞
  • peace

    A state of freedom from violence and conflict.

  • security

    The condition of being safe from threats or violence.

文法句型

act / war / fight against terror

terror attack / threat / campaign

use terror to [verb]

用法筆記

Almost always uncountable in this sense. Frequently appears in news compounds such as terror attack, terror suspect, and terror plot. The related noun terrorism is more formal and emphasises the ideology or system.

常見錯誤

❌The robbers used terror to scare the bank staff.
✅The group used terror to force the government to change its policy.
💡In this sense, terror refers to political violence aimed at the public or the state, not ordinary crime.

3. a troublesome person, most often a young child, whose wild or naughty behaviour

3.名詞B2
釋義

a troublesome person, most often a young child, whose wild or naughty behaviour makes them hard to control

例句

Little Obi has been a complete terror today — he poured juice on the cat.

informal register: a complete terror

The babysitter quit after one day because the children were absolute terrors.

plural countable: absolute terrors

同義詞
  • menace

    A similar informal use for a troublesome person, but can sound more serious or negative.

  • handful

    Softer and more affectionate; suggests someone is difficult to manage rather than deliberately troublesome.

反義詞
  • angel

    Used informally for a well-behaved child.

  • darling

    An affectionate term for a pleasant, well-behaved person.

文法句型

a / that / the terror

a little / complete / absolute terror

the terror of [place]

用法筆記

Often used humorously or with affectionate exasperation. Typically describes energetic, mischievous behaviour rather than genuinely harmful actions. Common in the fixed phrase a little terror.

常見錯誤

❌My son is a terror when he doesn't get dessert.
✅My son is a terror
💡he emptied flour all over the kitchen.' — The word suggests actively disruptive or destructive behaviour, not just being upset or grumpy.