nightmare Definition
- 1a frightening or unpleasant dream
- 2an experience that is very difficult or unpleasant
Using nightmare: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "nightmare" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
I had a nightmare about falling off a cliff.
Example
The traffic jam was a complete nightmare.
Example
The project turned into a logistical nightmare.
Example
The thought of public speaking is a nightmare for many people.
nightmare Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with nightmare
Example
The pandemic has been a living nightmare for many people.
Example
The nightmare scenario for the company is bankruptcy.
Example
The horror movie was full of nightmare fuel.
Origins of nightmare
from Middle English 'nihtmare', meaning 'an evil spirit believed to haunt and suffocate sleeping people'
Summary: nightmare in Brief
A 'nightmare' [ˈnaɪtˌmer] is a frightening or unpleasant dream, or an experience that is very difficult or unpleasant. It can be used to describe both literal dreams and metaphorical situations, such as 'The traffic jam was a complete nightmare.' 'Nightmare' also appears in phrases like 'living nightmare,' which describes a never-ending bad situation, and 'nightmare scenario,' which refers to the worst possible outcome.