# terrify

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈtɛɹɪfaɪ/ · frequency rank #37,249

## Definitions
1. To frighten greatly; to fill with terror.
2. To menace or intimidate.
3. To make terrible.

## Etymology
From Middle French terrifier, from Latin terrificare.

## Easily confused with
- **terry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terrify-vs-terry)
- **testify** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terrify-vs-testify)
- **terrier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terrier-vs-terrify)
- **terribly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terribly-vs-terrify)
- **terrific** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terrific-vs-terrify)

## Common misspellings (9)
`etrrify`, `terify`, `terirfy`, `terrfiy`, `terriffy`, `terrifyy`, `terriyf`, `trerify`, `tterrify`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/terrify