World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesNightmare
/ˈnaɪt.mɛər/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A frightening or unpleasant dream that produces a strong feeling of terror, horror, distress, or anxiety.
"She woke up sweating and shaking after having a terrifying nightmare about being trapped." - 2
A very difficult, unpleasant, or terrifying experience or situation.
"Trying to navigate the city's traffic during the holiday rush was an absolute nightmare."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from Old English 'niht' (night) and 'mære' (a mythological spirit or incubus that lies upon sleepers, causing a feeling of suffocation). Over centuries, the meaning shifted from a supernatural affliction to any terrifying or distressing dream.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Nightmare"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Nightmare" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
cauchemar
Transliteration: koh-shmar
"Il fait souvent des cauchemars après avoir regardé des films d'horreur."
Albtraum
Transliteration: ahlp-troum
"Dieser Unfall war der reinste Albtraum für die Familie."
incubo
Transliteration: een-koo-bo
"Ho fatto un brutto incubo stanotte."
pesadilla
Transliteration: peh-sah-dee-yah
"La pérdida de su pasaporte convirtió su viaje en una pesadilla."
pesadelo
Transliteration: peh-zah-deh-loo
"Ele acordou gritando no meio de um pesadelo."
दुःस्वप्न
Transliteration: duhsvapna
"वह कल रात एक भयानक दुःस्वप्न देखकर जाग गया।"
噩梦
Transliteration: è mèng
"昨晚我做了一个可怕的噩梦。"
악몽
Transliteration: ak-mong
"그는 어젯밤에 끔찍한 악몽을 꾸었다."
悪夢
Transliteration: akumu
"昨晩は恐ろしい悪夢にうなされた。"
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