horrify
gb/hˈɔɹəfˌaɪ/ us/hˈɔɹəfˌaɪ/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
C1
action
1
shock and upset deeply
To make someone feel very shocked and upset.
Usage pattern:
[something] horrifies [someone]; It horrifies [someone] that [clause]
Common mistake:
Usually transitive: you horrify someone (or someone is horrified). It is less common to use it without an object.
Synonyms
appall (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal.)
|
shock (Often weaker and less focused on moral disgust.)
|
disgust (Emphasizes revulsion more than shock or fear.)
Antonyms
delight (To give pleasure rather than shock or disgust.)
|
reassure (To reduce fear or worry rather than cause it.)
Collocations
deeply horrify
|absolutely horrify
|horrify the public
|horrify viewers
|horrify readers
|horrify the community
|horrify someone to think
|horrify someone that...
|be horrified by
|be horrified at
Themes
emotions
|communication
|news_media
Examples
- The footage horrified many viewers.
- It horrifies me that people can treat animals that way.
- Her casual jokes about the tragedy horrified the families involved.
Learner examples
- The news horrified me.
- I was horrified by what I saw.
Grammar
Dictionary form
horrify
IPA
GB/hˈɔɹəfˌaɪ/
US/hˈɔɹəfˌaɪ/
Syllables & stress
hor - rify (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (hor)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: horrify
- 3rd Person Singular: horrifies
- Present Participle: horrifying
- Past: horrified
Word family
Expressions
be horrified (by/at)
1/bˈi hˈɔɹəfˌaɪd bˈaɪət/
fixed phrase
feel shocked and upset
To feel very shocked and upset because of something.
Examples
- I was horrified by the way he spoke to the staff.
- They were horrified at the amount of waste they saw.
- She was horrified by the message and deleted it immediately.
be horrified to hear/learn/see
1/bˈi hˈɔɹəfˌaɪd tə hˈiɹlˈɛɹnsˈi/
fixed phrase
react with shock to news
To feel very shocked when you find something out.
Examples
- We were horrified to learn that the building had no fire exits.
- She was horrified to see how sick the dog looked.
- He was horrified to hear what had happened to his friend.