Meanings
adjective
- Causing immense fear; extremely scary
The idea of speaking in front of such a large audience was petrifying.
Synonyms: frightening, terrifying
verb
- gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of petrify
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveCausing immense fear; extremely scary
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More synonyms by meaning
adjectiveparalyzing with terror
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Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Cite this entry
APA
petrifying. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petrifying
MLA
“petrifying.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petrifying. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “petrifying,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petrifying.
Source: petrifying on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.