Nightmare — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈnīt-ˌmer/ night·mare

Meaning & Definition of Nightmare

Nightmare (noun)

  1. an evil spirit formerly thought to oppress people during sleep
  2. a frightening dream that usually awakens the sleeper
  3. something (such as an experience, situation, or object) having the monstrous character of a nightmare or producing a feeling of anxiety or terror

Nightmare (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness

    "that 20-page exam was a nightmare"

    similar: agony, Gehenna, hell, horror, misery, murder, torment, torture
    related: affliction, calvary, cross, curse, ordeal, trial, tribulation, calamity, misfortune, tragedy, gall, thorn, bummer, downer, drag
    opposite: heaven, paradise
    near: delight, diversion, entertainment, fun, joy, pleasure, recreation, lark, picnic, riot

Nightmare (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. extremely disturbing or repellent

    "survivors of a nuclear holocaust would surely face a nightmare existence"

    similar: appalling, atrocious, awful, dreadful, frightful, ghastly, grisly, gruesome, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish, shocking, terrible, terrific
    related: alarming, bloodcurdling, dire, direful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, gut-wrenching, hair-raising, heart-stopping, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, terrifying, abhorrent, deplorable, disagreeable, disgusting, distasteful, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, obscene, offensive, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, sickening, abominable, evil, foul, heinous, noxious, odious, unspeakable, vile, grotesque, ugly, unsightly
    near: agreeable, appealing, attractive, delectable, delicious, delightful, enjoyable, enticing, inviting, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome, cheering, comforting, soothing

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Nightmare

The most common words with a similar meaning to Nightmare:

agony, Gehenna, hell, horror, misery, murder, torment, torture, appalling, atrocious, awful, dreadful, frightful, ghastly, grisly, gruesome, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish, shocking, terrible, terrific

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Nightmare

Words with the opposite meaning of Nightmare:

heaven, paradise

Related Words for Nightmare

affliction, calvary, cross, curse, ordeal, trial, tribulation, calamity, misfortune, tragedy, gall, thorn, bummer, downer, drag, alarming, bloodcurdling, dire, direful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, gut-wrenching, hair-raising, heart-stopping, intimidating, redoubtable, scary

Near Antonyms of Nightmare

delight, diversion, entertainment, fun, joy, pleasure, recreation, lark, picnic, riot, agreeable, appealing, attractive, delectable, delicious, delightful, enjoyable, enticing, inviting, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome, cheering, comforting, soothing

Word Forms of Nightmare

Derived words: nightmare (adjective), nightmarish (adjective), nightmarishly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Nightmare

Middle English nyghte mare, from nyghte night:1 + mare mare:3

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Nightmare

Words & Phrases Containing Nightmare

worst nightmare

Frequently Asked Questions about Nightmare

What does "Nightmare" mean?

"Nightmare" means an evil spirit formerly thought to oppress people during sleep. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: an evil spirit formerly thought to oppress people during sleep. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Nightmare"?

Other words for "Nightmare" include agony, Gehenna, hell, horror, misery, murder, torment and torture. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Nightmare" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Nightmare"?

There are 86 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Nightmare". Common alternatives include agony, Gehenna, hell, horror, misery, murder, torment, torture, appalling and atrocious.

What is the opposite of "Nightmare"?

Antonyms of "Nightmare" include heaven and paradise. Near antonyms include delight, diversion, entertainment and fun.

How do you use "Nightmare" in a sentence?

Examples of "Nightmare" in a sentence: "that 20-page exam was a nightmare"; "survivors of a nuclear holocaust would surely face a nightmare existence".

Is "Nightmare" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Nightmare" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Nightmare" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Nightmare" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Nightmare"?

"Nightmare" is pronounced /ˈnīt-ˌmer/ and divided into syllables as night·mare.