bloodcurdling

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled blood-curdling

US /ˈblʌdˌkɝːdəlɪŋ/ UK /ˈblʌdˌkɜːdəlɪŋ/ See IPA manual

Freq #71856

Meanings

1

adj
causing extreme fear or horror

A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the empty house.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · causing extreme fear or horror terrifying horrifyinghair-raisingchilling

More nightmarish

Opposites

reassuring comforting calming

Word family

Derived forms bloodcurdlingly

Related forms blood-chilling

Etymology

A compound of blood + curdling, based on the old figurative idea that intense fear can make the blood curdle or congeal. The hyphenated spelling blood-curdling remains common.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

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