Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

ephialtes

noun

/ɛˈfɪəltiːz/

Definition

A term that refers to a nightmare or a person who brings nightmares.

Examples

After a long week of stress, she was plagued by ephialtes that left her feeling exhausted.
The legend of ephialtes was told to scare children into sleeping tight and avoiding bad dreams.
In ancient texts, ephialtes was often depicted as a shadowy figure lurking in the darkness.

Meaning

Ephialtes is derived from ancient Greek mythology, referring to a spirit or entity associated with causing distressing dreams, particularly nightmares.