verb Present participle of petrify.
adjective Causing extreme fear or terror; terrifying.
In medicine, petrifying can be used metaphorically to describe a situation or diagnosis that is extremely alarming or shocking.
In geology, petrifying refers to the process of turning organic material into stone through mineralization.
In botany, petrifying can refer to the process of turning plant material into stone through fossilization.
In horror literature and movies, petrifying is used to describe something that is extremely frightening or terrifying.
In a horror novel, the writer described the petrifying atmosphere of the abandoned house.
The psychologist discussed the petrifying effects of phobias on a person's mental health.
The journalist wrote a petrifying article about the dangers of a new drug being sold on the streets.
The film director used petrifying special effects to create a sense of fear and suspense in the movie.
The police officer described the petrifying scene of a crime scene he had to investigate.