- pronunciation:
- naIt
meIr
- features:
- Word Combinations (noun), Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
a terrifying or distressing dream.
She woke up from a terrible nightmare in which she was being buried alive.- synonyms:
- incubus
- similar words:
- dream
|
| definition 2: |
an experience, event, or state of mind suggestive of a terrible dream.
The trip was a nightmare, beginning with the car being broken into on the first night.The exam was a nightmare, and he knew there was little chance of his passing.- synonyms:
- ordeal
- similar words:
- horror, terror, torture
|
| related words: |
chimera, hallucination, ordeal |
|
|
|
|
| derivation: |
nightmarish (adj.) |
Nightmare comes from two early English words that together mean "night goblin."