Nightmare - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A nightmare is a frightening or disturbing dream that causes fear, anxiety, or distress. It can also refer to a very unpleasant or terrifying real-life experience.
Definition:
A frightening or unpleasant dream, or a very distressing experience.
Synonyms:
bad dream, horror, ordeal, terror
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
daydream, pleasant dream
Common Collocations:
recurring nightmare, terrifying nightmare, wake up from a nightmare, haunted by nightmares
Derivatives:
nightmarish, nightmarishly
Usage Tips:
Use "nightmare" literally for bad dreams or figuratively for stressful situations; avoid overuse in casual contexts.
Common Phrases:
living nightmare, like a nightmare, turn into a nightmare
Etymology:
From Old English "niht" (night) + "mare" (evil spirit), originally meaning a demon causing bad dreams.
Examples:
- 1. She had a nightmare about falling last night.
- 2. Moving to a new city alone was a complete nightmare for him.
- 3. The traffic jam turned our trip into a nightmare.
- 4. Waking up from a nightmare can leave you feeling uneasy.