verb

terrorize

TEH-ruh-ryz

verb

To frighten someone badly, usually by repeated threats or violence.

"The gang terrorized the neighbourhood for months before the arrests."

"A masked figure had been terrorizing residents with late-night phone calls."

To force someone to do something through fear or intimidation.

"The dictator terrorized the population into silence."

How to Use Terrorize

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo scare someone so badly and so often that it controls how they act.

Common pairings

terrorize the neighbourhood terrorize residents terrorized into submission

terrorized past tense, terrorizes singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The gang _____ the neighbourhood for months before the arrests.

Formed from terror plus the verb-forming suffix -ize, following the same pattern as words like "organize" or "modernize".

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