Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
petrifies
verb
/ˈpɛtrɪfaɪz/
Definition
to make someone so frightened that they are unable to move or think; to turn organic material into stone-like substances.
Examples
- The horror movie was so scary that it petrifies the viewers.
- In folklore, legends speak of a gaze that petrifies anyone who meets it.
Meaning
The term ‘petrifies’ refers to a state of extreme fear or to the process of turning living matter into a stony substance through mineralization.
Synonyms
- immobilizes
- terrifies
- stuns
- mesmerizes
