nightmare

noun

night·mare ˈnīt-ˌmer How to pronounce nightmare (audio)

: an evil spirit formerly thought to oppress people during sleep

: a frightening dream that usually awakens the sleeper

: something (such as an experience, situation, or object) having the monstrous character of a nightmare or producing a feeling of anxiety or terror

nightmare adjective

nightmarish

ˈnīt-ˌmer-ish How to pronounce nightmare (audio)

adjective

nightmarishly adverb

Did you know?

Looking at nightmare, you might guess that it is a compound formed from night and mare. If so, your guess is correct. But while the night in nightmare makes sense, the mare part is less obvious. Most English speakers know mare as a word for a female horse or similar equine animal, but the mare of nightmare is a different word, an obsolete one referring to an evil spirit that was once thought to produce feelings of suffocation in people while they slept. By the 14th century the mare was also known as nightmare, and by the late 16th century nightmare was also being applied to the feelings of distress caused by the spirit, and then to frightening or unpleasant dreams.

Example Sentences

Mommy, I had a really scary nightmare. The party was a complete nightmare.

Recent Examples on the Web Once inside, people will be terrified by the artwork with haunting faces that change any time anyone walks by. Drape and hang the cloth all over a room or outdoors to transform a space into a nightmare.

Angela Belt, House Beautiful, 8 Sep. 2022 Westbrook experienced that kind of failure last season when his homecoming dream transformed into a nightmare.

Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 One lesson is to prevent this nightmare from spreading elsewhere—such as Taiwan.

The Editorial Board, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 But the city's ongoing issues with contaminated water — that has been shown to contain E. coli bacteria and lead — has turned the process into a nightmare for the couple.

Johnny Dodd, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2022 And James Rawlings, a Physics lecturer with Nottingham Trent University, says this would turn any relaxing shower into a nightmare.

Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 23 Aug. 2022 This time, a group of childhood friends reunite in Derry, Maine and come face to face with this nightmare known as Pennywise the Clown.

Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, 19 Aug. 2022 New federal healthcare price transparency rules empower patients like Jason to avoid this common overbilling nightmare.

Josh Archambault, Forbes, 21 June 2022 No telling what's coming next, but more changes have to happen unless the Lakers want to live this nightmare again.

Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2022 See More

单词	nightmares
释义	nightmare noun night·mare ˈnīt-ˌmer 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 adjective nightmarish ˈnīt-ˌmer-ish adjective nightmarishly adverb Did you know? Looking at nightmare, you might guess that it is a compound formed from night and mare. If so, your guess is correct. But while the night in nightmare makes sense, the mare part is less obvious. Most English speakers know mare as a word for a female horse or similar equine animal, but the mare of nightmare is a different word, an obsolete one referring to an evil spirit that was once thought to produce feelings of suffocation in people while they slept. By the 14th century the mare was also known as nightmare, and by the late 16th century nightmare was also being applied to the feelings of distress caused by the spirit, and then to frightening or unpleasant dreams. Synonyms agony Gehenna hell horror misery murder torment torture See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Mommy, I had a really scary nightmare. The party was a complete nightmare. Recent Examples on the Web Once inside, people will be terrified by the artwork with haunting faces that change any time anyone walks by. Drape and hang the cloth all over a room or outdoors to transform a space into a nightmare. Angela Belt, House Beautiful, 8 Sep. 2022 Westbrook experienced that kind of failure last season when his homecoming dream transformed into a nightmare. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 One lesson is to prevent this nightmare from spreading elsewhere—such as Taiwan. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 But the city's ongoing issues with contaminated water — that has been shown to contain E. coli bacteria and lead — has turned the process into a nightmare for the couple. Johnny Dodd, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2022 And James Rawlings, a Physics lecturer with Nottingham Trent University, says this would turn any relaxing shower into a nightmare. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 23 Aug. 2022 This time, a group of childhood friends reunite in Derry, Maine and come face to face with this nightmare known as Pennywise the Clown. Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, 19 Aug. 2022 New federal healthcare price transparency rules empower patients like Jason to avoid this common overbilling nightmare. Josh Archambault, Forbes, 21 June 2022 No telling what's coming next, but more changes have to happen unless the Lakers want to live this nightmare again. Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English nyghte mare, from nyghte night entry 1 + mare mare entry 3 First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing nightmare worst nightmare worst nightmare Kids Definition nightmare noun night·mare ˈnīt-ˌmer 1 : a frightening dream 2 : a horrible experience Medical Definition nightmare noun night·mare ˈnīt-ˌma(ə)r, -ˌme(ə)r : a frightening or distressing dream that usually awakens the sleeper nightmares noun plural of nightmare as in horrors a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness that 20-page exam was a nightmare Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance horrors agonies tortures torments miseries curses hells murders ordeals tragedies misfortunes calamities Gehennas tribulations trials afflictions crosses thorns galls drags downers calvaries bummers Antonyms & Near Antonyms joys pleasures heavens delights fun riots entertainments diversions paradises recreations picnics larks See More
随便看	bathyalest bathyaller bathyallest bathybial bathybic bathybius bathybiuses bathychrome bathyclinograph bathyergi Bathyergidae bathyergidaes bathyerguses bathyergusses bathygram bathyl bathylimnetic bathylimnia bathylimnion bathylite bathylites bathylith bathyliths Bathymasteridae bathymeter

nightmare

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing nightmare

Kids Definition

noun

Medical Definition

noun

noun