Nightmare

Pronunciation: /naɪt.mɛər/

Definitions of nightmare

noun a situation or experience that is very frightening or unpleasant

Example Sentences

A1 I had a nightmare last night.

A2 The haunted house was like a nightmare come to life.

B1 The project turned into a nightmare when we realized we were missing crucial data.

B2 The nightmare of losing her job kept her up at night.

C1 The nightmare scenario of a global pandemic became a reality in 2020.

C2 The politician's corruption scandal was a waking nightmare for the country.

Examples of nightmare in a Sentence

formal The recurring nightmare has been causing significant distress to the patient.

informal Last night's nightmare was so scary, I couldn't go back to sleep.

slang That party was a total nightmare, I wish I never went.

figurative Dealing with that difficult client is a nightmare, I can't wait for it to be over.

Grammatical Forms of nightmare

• past tense: nightmared
• plural: nightmares
• comparative: more nightmarish
• superlative: most nightmarish
• present tense: nightmare
• future tense: will nightmare
• perfect tense: have nightmared
• continuous tense: is nightmaring
• singular: nightmare
• positive degree: nightmare
• infinitive: to nightmare
• gerund: nightmaring
• participle: nightmared

Origin and Evolution of nightmare

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'nightmare' originates from the Old English word 'nihtmaere', which means 'a female spirit or demon that oppresses people in their sleep.'

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'nightmare' shifted from referring to a supernatural being to describing a feeling of suffocating fear or anxiety experienced during sleep. It has come to be commonly used to describe a bad dream or a distressing experience.