Horror Genre Vocabulary

noun A 2014 horror film directed by Scott Cooper, starring Johnny Depp

• The controversial movie depicted a ritualistic Black Mass ceremony.
• Have you heard about that new horror film with a Black Mass scene?
• I can't believe they're actually planning a Black Mass in the abandoned church.
• The corrupt politician's actions were like a Black Mass on society.

noun an event or situation characterized by an extreme amount of bloodshed

• The battle resulted in a brutal bloodbath, with many casualties on both sides.
• The game turned into a total bloodbath, with one team dominating the other.
• That movie was a total bloodbath - so much action and violence!
• The political debate turned into a bloodbath as each candidate fiercely attacked the other.

noun the killing or wounding of people, typically on a large scale during a conflict

• The ongoing conflict in the region has resulted in a great deal of bloodshed.
• The gang war led to a lot of bloodshed in the neighborhood.
• The turf war between the two gangs ended in a lot of bloodshed.
• The heated argument between the siblings resulted in emotional bloodshed.

adjective having or showing a strong desire for bloodshed or violence

• The bloodthirsty dictator ordered the execution of his political opponents.
• That horror movie was full of bloodthirsty monsters.
• The gang leader was known to be a real bloodthirsty dude.
• The rivalry between the two teams was described as a bloodthirsty battle for supremacy.

adjective used to express anger, annoyance, or emphasis

• The bloody conflict in the region has been going on for years.
• I can't believe you forgot your bloody wallet again!
• Stop being such a bloody drama queen about it.
• The artist's use of color created a bloody sunset in the painting.

adjective resembling or characteristic of a corpse

• The medical examiner noted the cadaverous appearance of the body during the autopsy.
• She looked so pale and sickly, almost cadaverous.
• That guy's face was totally cadaverous after pulling an all-nighter.
• The abandoned house had a cadaverous feel to it, with its peeling paint and overgrown yard.

noun slaughter

• The battlefield was a scene of utter carnage after the fierce battle.
• The car accident left a lot of carnage on the road.
• That party was a total carnage, everyone was out of control.
• The aftermath of the scandal resulted in political carnage within the party.

noun a slow, stealthy movement

• The slow and gradual creep of urbanization is evident in many developing countries.
• I always feel a bit creeped out when I'm alone in the dark.
• That guy gives me the creeps, I don't trust him at all.
• The creep of doubt started to seep into her mind, making her question everything.

noun a feeling of fear or unease

verb to move slowly and quietly in order to avoid being noticed or to frighten someone

• The presence of creeps in the neighborhood has caused concern among residents.
• I always get the creeps when I walk past that old abandoned house.
• I don't want to hang out with those creeps, they give me bad vibes.
• The idea of spiders crawling on me gives me the creeps.

adjective causing anxiety or unease; upsetting

• The disturbing images from the crime scene were difficult for the investigators to process.
• I find it really disturbing when people chew with their mouths open.
• That horror movie was so disturbing, I couldn't sleep for days.
• The disturbing news cast a dark shadow over the community.

noun a feeling of intense fear or apprehension

verb to anticipate with great apprehension or fear

• The feeling of dread washed over her as she realized she had forgotten her presentation materials.
• I always feel a sense of dread before going to the dentist.
• I have such dread about this exam tomorrow, I didn't study at all.
• The dread of failure loomed over him like a dark cloud, making it hard to focus on anything else.

noun a covering or veil that hides or obscures something

verb to cover or hide something with a veil or layer

• The thick fog began to enshroud the city, reducing visibility to almost zero.
• The mystery surrounding the case seemed to enshroud everyone involved.
• The gossip and rumors enshrouded the entire school, causing chaos.
• His guilt enshrouded him like a dark cloud, making it hard for him to move forward.

noun A person who expels evil spirits or performs exorcisms

• The exorcist was called in to perform a ritual to rid the house of evil spirits.
• I heard the exorcist is coming to cleanse the haunted house next week.
• The exorcist is gonna banish those ghosts for good.
• She was like an exorcist, able to remove negative energy from any situation.

noun an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat

verb to be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening

• The fear of failure can often hinder one's ability to take risks.
• I have a fear of spiders, so I always ask someone else to remove them from the house.
• I was so scared, I was shaking like a leaf!
• The fear of the unknown can paralyze us from moving forward in life.

noun a person who is obsessed with a particular activity or interest

verb to become or cause someone to become mentally or emotionally unbalanced

• The scientist was considered a freak in the academic community due to his unorthodox theories.
• I can't believe that freak actually won the competition.
• She's such a freak when it comes to organizing her closet.
• The sudden change in weather was a freak occurrence for this time of year.

verb to cause fear or terror in someone

• The loud noise from the construction site may frighten some residents.
• Don't sneak up on me like that, you really frighten me!
• That horror movie last night really spooked me, it was so frightenin'.
• The thought of failing the exam frightens me more than anything else.

noun A ghost story is a tale or account of supernatural events or occurrences involving ghosts or spirits.

• The author's latest book is a chilling ghost story set in a haunted mansion.
• Let's gather around the campfire and tell a spooky ghost story.
• I heard a crazy ghost story about that abandoned house down the street.
• Her past mistakes haunted her like a never-ending ghost story.

adjective soft and sticky, often referring to a texture or consistency

• The gooey substance was carefully analyzed in the laboratory.
• I love indulging in gooey chocolate chip cookies.
• That s'more was so gooey, it was amazing!
• Her words were like gooey syrup, sweet and sticky.

noun a place frequented by a ghost or spirit

verb to visit often or continually

• The ghost of the old king is said to haunt the castle grounds.
• I swear I saw a ghost haunt that old abandoned house last night.
• That creepy feeling you get when you think someone is watching you can really haunt you.
• The memories of her past mistakes continue to haunt her in her dreams.

adjective an adjective modifies a noun or pronoun and provides more information about it

adverb an adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb and indicates the manner, time, place, or degree of an action

• The experiment went horribly wrong due to a miscalculation in the formula.
• I failed horribly at the math test because I didn't study enough.
• She messed up the presentation horribly and now everyone is laughing.
• The storm hit the town horribly, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

adjective causing horror or disgust; extremely unpleasant

• The conditions in the refugee camp were horrid, with limited access to clean water and sanitation facilities.
• I can't believe the horrid service we received at that restaurant last night.
• That movie was so horrid, I couldn't even finish watching it.
• The thought of having to sit through another one of his horrid lectures makes me cringe.

verb past tense of the verb horrify

adjective causing or feeling horror or shock

• The audience was horrified by the graphic images shown in the documentary.
• I was horrified when I saw how much I spent on my credit card bill.
• I was totally horrified when I saw that huge spider in my room.
• She was horrified to discover that her secret had been exposed.

verb to make a sudden, unsteady movement forward or sideways

adjective moving with abrupt, unsteady motions

• The ship was lurching in the rough seas, making it difficult for passengers to walk.
• I felt like I was lurching around after getting off the roller coaster.
• He was lurching all over the dance floor after too many drinks.
• Her emotions were lurching from one extreme to the other during the stressful situation.

noun a person who is extremely enthusiastic about something

adjective showing excessive enthusiasm or excitement

• The maniac was apprehended by the police after a long chase.
• That maniac really needs to calm down before someone gets hurt.
• Dude, that guy is a total maniac when he's driving!
• Her obsession with perfection turned her into a cleaning maniac.

adjective showing wild and uncontrollable emotion or behavior

• The maniacal behavior exhibited by the suspect raised concerns among the investigators.
• She went on a maniacal shopping spree and bought way too many things.
• He has this maniacal laugh that always creeps me out.
• The maniacal storm wreaked havoc on the small town, leaving destruction in its wake.

noun the mouth, throat, or stomach of a person or animal, especially a carnivorous mammal

• The shark opened its massive maw to reveal rows of sharp teeth.
• I can't believe how wide that fish's maw can open!
• The party was so boring, I nearly fell asleep with my maw wide open.
• The corporation's legal maw is known for its aggressive tactics in court.

noun the period of darkness in each twenty-four hours; the time from sunset to sunrise when there is no sunlight

• The night sky was filled with twinkling stars.
• Let's go for a walk at night.
• I'm planning to pull an all-nighter studying for the exam.
• She was a beacon of light in his dark night of the soul.

verb Present participle of petrify.

adjective Causing extreme fear or terror; terrifying.

• The petrifying sight of the ancient ruins left the archaeologists in awe.
• I watched a petrifying horror movie last night and couldn't sleep.
• That haunted house was totally petrifying, dude!
• The thought of public speaking is petrifying to many people.

noun a dark shade of black that is so dark it appears to be like a pitch or tar

adjective describing something as being very dark or black, like the color of pitch or tar

• The room was so dark that it appeared pitch black.
• I couldn't see a thing in the pitch black room.
• I was scared to walk through the pitch black alley.
• His mood was as dark as pitch black.

noun a foolish or stupid person

• The children carved a pumpkin head for Halloween.
• I can't believe you wore a pumpkin head to the party!
• That guy is such a pumpkin head, always making silly jokes.
• Her stubbornness made her a real pumpkin head when it came to compromise.

noun a quality or state of being scary or causing fear

• The scariness of the horror movie was intensified by the eerie soundtrack.
• I can't handle the scariness of that haunted house!
• The scariness of that roller coaster was off the charts!
• The scariness of facing my fears is overwhelming, but I know I need to do it to grow.

noun a trembling or quivering movement

verb to shake slightly because of cold, fear, or excitement

• The cold wind made her shiver as she walked home from work.
• I always shiver when I watch scary movies.
• That horror movie had me shivering in my boots!
• The thought of public speaking makes me shiver with fear.

noun a loud, sharp, piercing cry

verb to utter a shriek

• The sudden shriek of the alarm startled everyone in the building.
• I let out a shriek when I saw the spider crawling towards me.
• She let out a loud shriek when she won the lottery.
• The shriek of the wind through the trees sounded like a chorus of ghosts.

adjective describing someone or something that is moving around in a restless or uneasy way

• The child was squirming in his seat during the long lecture.
• Stop being so squirmy and sit still for a minute!
• The kids were getting all squirmy waiting in line for the rollercoaster.
• The uncomfortable truth made him feel squirmy inside.

adjective relating to the river Styx in Greek mythology; dark, gloomy, or forbidding

• The cave was filled with a Stygian darkness that seemed to swallow all light.
• The room was so dark, it felt like a Stygian pit.
• I hate going into that Stygian basement, it gives me the creeps.
• His mood was as Stygian as the storm clouds overhead.

verb to shake involuntarily, typically as a result of anxiety, excitement, or weakness

• The ground began to tremble as the earthquake approached.
• I could feel my hands tremble with nervousness before the big presentation.
• She was so scared that she felt her legs start to tremble.
• The news of the company's bankruptcy made the stock market tremble.

adjective referring to something supernatural or otherworldly

• The unearthly glow of the moon illuminated the dark forest.
• I saw an unearthly creature in the woods last night, it was so creepy!
• That horror movie had some seriously unearthly special effects.
• Her singing voice was so beautiful, it sounded almost unearthly.

verb to cause someone to feel nervous, afraid, or upset

• The unexpected noise unnerved the audience during the performance.
• I don't know why, but that movie really unnerved me.
• The creepy music in that game totally unnerved me!
• Her calm demeanor unnerved her opponents during the debate.

adjective causing one to feel anxious or uneasy

• The unsettling news of the economic downturn has caused widespread concern among investors.
• I find it unsettling when people stare at me for too long.
• That horror movie was so unsettling, it gave me the creeps.
• The unsettling feeling in the air made me uneasy, like a storm was brewing.

noun a prolonged high-pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger

• The mourners began to wail as the casket was lowered into the ground.
• I could hear the baby wail from the next room.
• She wailed about not being able to go to the concert.
• The wind seemed to wail through the trees on that stormy night.

noun a person, place, thing, or idea, in this case 'dead' and 'buried' can be considered as nouns referring to a state of being

verb action words that show what someone or something is doing, in this case 'buried' is the action being performed

adjective describing words that modify or describe a noun or pronoun, in this case 'dead and buried' describes a state of being

adverb words that modify or describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, in this case 'dead and buried' describes the state of being completely

conjunction a word that connects words, phrases, clauses, or sentences, in this case 'and' connects the two adjectives 'dead' and 'buried'

• After a thorough investigation, it was concluded that the case was dead and buried.
• There's no point in bringing up that old argument, it's dead and buried now.
• That rumor about him cheating on her is totally dead and buried.
• The idea of starting a new business venture with him is dead and buried after what happened last time.

noun an extreme or irrational fear of ghosts

• Spectrophobia is a psychological condition characterized by an intense fear of mirrors or one's own reflection.
• I heard Sarah has spectrophobia, she always avoids looking at herself in mirrors.
• I don't get why people have spectrophobia, mirrors are just glass and metal.
• His spectrophobia of failure holds him back from taking risks and pursuing his dreams.

noun an extreme and irrational fear of sharks

• Selachophobia is a specific phobia that involves a persistent, excessive, and irrational fear of sharks.
• I have selachophobia, so I always avoid going to the beach.
• My selachophobia kicks in whenever I see a shark on TV.
• Her selachophobia towards failure prevents her from taking risks in her career.

noun a specific phobia of spiders

• Arachnophobia is a common fear of spiders that can cause anxiety and panic in some individuals.
• I can't even watch a movie with spiders in it because of my arachnophobia.
• My arachnophobia kicks in whenever I see a spider crawling around.
• Her arachnophobia towards public speaking is preventing her from pursuing her dream job.

noun The spherical, visual organs in the head of humans and vertebrate animals.

• The doctor examined the patient's eyeballs for any signs of infection.
• He couldn't believe his eyeballs when he saw the size of the fish he caught.
• I can't keep my eyeballs off that new video game.
• Her presentation was so captivating, it felt like my eyeballs were glued to the screen.

noun spine - the series of bones in the back that protect the spinal cord

verb runs - moves quickly in a particular direction

pronoun someone's - belonging to an unspecified person

preposition up/down - indicating direction

• As the ghostly figure emerged from the darkness, a chill ran down her spine.
• When she heard the eerie sound, a shiver ran up his spine.
• The scary movie gave her the creeps, and a chill ran down his spine.
• The thought of failing the exam sent a chill down her spine.

noun a sudden feeling of alarm or fear

verb to frighten or terrify

• The sudden loud noise affrighted the children in the classroom.
• The horror movie affrighted me so much that I couldn't sleep.
• That haunted house totally affrighted me, dude!
• The thought of failing the exam affrighted her more than anything else.

verb past tense of affright, meaning to frighten or scare

adjective feeling fear or alarm

• The villagers were affrighted by the sudden appearance of a ghostly figure in the graveyard.
• I was affrighted when I heard a loud noise coming from the dark alley.
• She was totally affrighted when she saw the spider crawling towards her.
• The thought of failing the exam affrighted him more than anything else.

noun a feeling of fear or anxiety

verb to cause fear or anxiety in someone

• The loud noise of the thunder affrights small children.
• Don't let scary movies affright you, they're not real.
• I was so affrighted when I saw that spider!
• The thought of failure affrights me more than anything else.