What does "terrorism" mean?
The system of fear and intimidation put into place during the Reign of Terror in Revolutionary France around 1793-94.
Terrorism
/ˈtɛɹəɹɪzəm/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The system of fear and intimidation put into place during the Reign of Terror in Revolutionary France around 1793-94.
- Grammar: terrorism is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: act of terrorism, acuteness, anarchism, animality.
- Useful contrasts: nonviolence, nonviolent movement, peace.
- Usage evidence: It is a prevalent belief, according to a nationwide poll in the United States, that Muslims are linked with terrorism.
How to use "terrorism"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "terrorism" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "terrorism" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "terrorism" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "terrorism" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "terrorism" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "act of terrorism" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "terrorism", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The system of fear and intimidation put into place during the Reign of Terror in Revolutionary France around 1793-94. historical, uncountable, usually
"In England I was proscribed for having vindicated the French Revolution, and I have suffered a rigorous imprisonment in France for having pursued a similar mode of conduct. During the reign of terrorism, I was a close prisoner for eight long months, and remained so above three months after the era of the tenth Thermidor."
- 2 the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear wordnet
- 3 The use of unlawful violence against people or property to achieve political objectives. uncountable, usually
"The threat of terrorism to the British lies in the overreaction to it of British governments. Each one in turn clicks up the ratchet of surveillance, intrusion and security. Each one diminishes liberty. David Cameron insists that his latest communications data bill is "vital to counter terrorism". Yet terror is mayhem. It is no threat to freedom. That threat is from counter-terror, from ministers capitulating to securocrats."
- 4 The use of unlawful violence against people or property to achieve political objectives.; The use of intimidation or bullying tactics. broadly, uncountable, usually
"We at the GCN Prisoner Project often get letters from prisoners who are being harassed (above and beyond the usual terrorism of the prison business) because of their being queer."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"It is a prevalent belief, according to a nationwide poll in the United States, that Muslims are linked with terrorism."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "terrorism"?
Common synonyms include: act of terrorism, acuteness, anarchism, animality, argumentum baculinum, atrocity.
How do you use "terrorism" in a sentence?
It is a prevalent belief, according to a nationwide poll in the United States, that Muslims are linked with terrorism.
How do you pronounce "terrorism"?
Pronounced /ˈtɛɹəɹɪzəm/.
Etymology
From French terrorisme, from terreur + -isme. By surface analysis, terror + -ism. The word first appears in English in 1795 in reference to the Jacobin radicals of France, who ruled during the Reign of Terror.