Terror Meaning
Terror Definition & Usage
A sudden, intense feeling of fear, dread, or panic, often triggered by a perceived threat or danger.
Examples
- "The sight of the dark alley filled him with terror."
- "She woke up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat, overcome by terror from a nightmare."
- "The sudden loud noise caused a wave of terror to sweep through the crowd."
- "There was a moment of pure terror when the car skidded off the icy road."
- "As the storm raged outside, terror gripped everyone in the small, isolated cabin."
A method or act of instilling fear or intimidation, often used in the context of political violence or warfare.
Examples
- "The government's use of terror against the population was widely condemned by human rights groups."
- "In the war-torn country, terrorist attacks have become a daily reality, spreading terror across the region."
- "He was arrested for his involvement in organizing acts of terror against civilians."
- "The dictator's reign was characterized by the terror imposed on his own people."
- "The bombing campaign was designed to instill terror in the hearts of the enemy."
An overwhelming and often paralyzing sense of fear or dread caused by an event or experience that is extraordinarily frightening or traumatic.
Examples
- "The terror of being lost in a foreign city without a map is something most travelers fear."
- "She felt a terror she could not explain when she stood at the edge of the cliff."
- "The news of the earthquake hit with such terror that people ran out into the streets in a panic."
- "His mind was filled with terror at the thought of losing everything in the fire."
- "The terror in her voice was unmistakable as she described the accident."
Cultural Context
The word 'terror' originates from Latin and has been a part of English vocabulary since the early 14th century. Historically, it was associated with intense fear, and later, during the French Revolution, it came to symbolize a politically-driven state of violent repression (the 'Reign of Terror'). In modern usage, it has broadened to encompass both emotional responses to fear and deliberate acts of violence or intimidation.
The Shadow of Terror
Story
The Shadow of Terror
The small town of Willowbrook had always been peaceful. The streets were lined with old, gnarled trees, and children played freely without a care in the world. But all of that changed one chilly autumn night. At exactly midnight, the first scream shattered the silence. Sarah, who had been walking her dog in the park, rushed to the source of the cry. What she saw paralyzed her with terror. In the middle of the street, a figure was silhouetted against the dim light of a streetlamp. Blood was dripping from their hands, and their eyes, wide with fear, locked onto Sarah’s gaze. But before she could react, the figure vanished into the shadows, leaving her standing alone, frozen in terror. As Sarah hurried home, her heart racing, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something had changed in Willowbrook. Over the following days, strange events began happening—more screams, unsettling noises in the night, and glimpses of shadowy figures lurking near the edges of the town. But it wasn’t until Sarah learned about the history of Willowbrook that she understood the true source of the terror. Decades ago, during a time of political unrest, the town had been the site of brutal repressions. The stories spoke of a secret group that had terrorized the residents, using fear as a weapon to control them. Sarah realized that the terror she was feeling wasn’t just a product of the night. It was something deeper, something tied to the very soul of the town. One evening, Sarah gathered her courage and decided to confront the terror head-on. Armed with nothing but a flashlight, she ventured into the woods where the first scream had come from. As she walked deeper into the darkness, the sounds of the night seemed to close in on her. Every crack of a twig, every rustle of leaves sent waves of terror through her. But then, she found it—the old, abandoned house. The place where the group had once held their meetings. As she stepped inside, she could feel the weight of history pressing down on her, the memories of fear and violence hanging in the air. The terror was not just a feeling. It was a legacy, one that had been passed down through the generations. In the end, Sarah discovered that the town’s terror was more than just the fear of a shadowy figure—it was the fear of the past, the fear of what had happened and what it still represented. It was the terror of being powerless, of being unable to escape the dark forces that haunted Willowbrook.
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