bloodcurdling

Examples

• All

• Mrs. Rufus did most of the talking, telling a string of bloodcurdling tales about childbirth.

  Fiction book (1998)

• Then, from the darkness all around them comes a chorus of demonic, bloodcurdling yells.

  Fiction book (1995)

• I am a man of science, but I too have heard the bloodcurdling sounds.

  Fiction book (2000)

• That's the most bloodcurdling sound.

  The Moon-Spinners (1964)

• The bloodcurdling cry fills the sky.

  Fiction book (1991)

• If it does... it'll make a charming, bloodcurdling mystery story.

  Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

• Seconds later, a bloodcurdling scream came over the comm, a shrill sound of absolute terror.

  Fiction book (1998)

• And it is common knowledge that her servants have left her without notice, and Lizzie Berry says her new boot boy tells such bloodcurdling stories of Lady Basingstoke's household that the servants all suffer from nightmares.

  Fiction book (1999)

• They are mostly men, shades dancing in the margins of her mind, leaping around the flames with bloodcurdling yells that redouble as the children scream back in fearful delight.

  Fiction book (1992)

• The bloodcurdling scream of the victim echoed through the dark alley.

Synonyms

S

scary

vsbloodcurdling

763 1.0

Causing fear or making you feel afraid

is heavier, focusing on extreme horror rather than ordinary fear

F

frightening

vsbloodcurdling

287 3.0

Causing someone to feel afraid

is more extreme and stresses deep horror rather than general fear

T

terrifying

vsbloodcurdling

209 5.3

Making people feel very afraid

is equally extreme yet emphasizes horror and lasting alarm

H

horrific

vsbloodcurdling

179 5.5

Causing great fear or shock

stresses extreme fear and horror rather than shock or disgust

H

horrifying

vsbloodcurdling

95 4.5

Makes people feel very afraid and shocked

is focused more on extreme terror and alarming severity

H

horrendous

vsbloodcurdling

82 7.0

Very shocking and scary, causing fear or disgust

is focused on extreme horror and alarming severity rather than mere shock

N

nightmarish

vsbloodcurdling

17 7.0

Very frightening and unpleasant, like a bad dream

is similar but often implies a prolonged disturbing experience

H

hair-raising

vsbloodcurdling

• Informal

6 5.2

Very frightening so you feel excited and afraid

is similar but focuses on pure horror without the thrill element

P

petrifying

vsbloodcurdling

1 6.8

Causing so much fear that a person cannot move

is similar but focuses on extreme horror rather than physical freezing

C

chilling

vsbloodcurdling

1 5.3

Making you feel very scared or worried

is stronger, pointing to outright extreme horror rather than mere unease

S

shuddery

vsbloodcurdling

1 8.5

That makes you shiver with fear

is broader, stressing extreme alarming horror beyond a brief physical reaction

S

scary to the bone

vsbloodcurdling

• Informal

8.5

Making someone feel very afraid

is equally extreme but stresses alarming horror rather than general fear

S

screamy

vsbloodcurdling

7.4

Scaring people with sudden shocks that make them scream

is broader, showing extreme horror beyond staged film shocks

Antonyms

R

reassuring

78 3.1

Makes someone feel less worried and calmer

C

calming

6 2.6

An action that makes someone less angry or upset

How Scary

bloodcurdling

• Informal

1 8.2

petrifying

1 6.8

terrifying

209 5.3

frightening

287 3.0

disturbing

304 4.2

unsettling

64 4.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology