Terrifyingly: meaning, definitions and examples

Use in situations where intense fear is involved, often creating a sense of dread or panic. Can be used to amplify the effect of an adjective.

• The storm grew terrifyingly violent
• The situation escalated terrifyingly quickly

Appropriate for situations causing fear or alarm, but not necessarily at the extreme level of terror. Commonly used to describe something surprising and a bit disturbing.

• The disease spread frighteningly fast
• It was frighteningly quiet in the abandoned building

Typically used in scenarios that are shocking and hideous, often inducing shock and disgust. Can imply a gruesome or repulsive element.

• The scene at the accident was horrifyingly graphic
• He told us a horrifyingly gruesome story

Casual context where something is startling or creepy but not necessarily inducing deep fear. Often used in everyday language to describe something mildly scary.

• His new mask looks scarily realistic
• It was scarily dark in the forest