View synonyms for

petrified

[pe-truh-fahyd]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

having been numbed or paralyzed with astonishment, horror, or other strong emotion.
The victim arrived at the shelter petrified and penniless, lacking the documents needed to apply for aid.
having been turned to stone or a stony substance.
Among the fossils found here are petrified skeletons of dinosaurs dating back 65 million years.
having been made rigid or inert; hardened.
The 20-year-old snack cake—still in its original packaging—is quite petrified; it makes a pleasant thunking sound when I knock it against the desk.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of petrify.

Discover More

Other Word Forms

half-petrified adjective
semipetrified adjective
unpetrified adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of petrified¹

petrify ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Alexandra Gelder, a medical secretary from Castel, said her family paid nearly £200 a month for electricity despite being "barely home" and she was "petrified" about paying her bills next month.

From

PC King said he was "petrified" when he saw the defendant with the sword.

From

"I just can't believe it, I am so, so shocked - I honestly am petrified obviously to even be here, hence the reason why I am going," she said.

From

The judge said Hollingsbee had left one of his victims petrified, crying in her bed.

From

Rogers’ petrified gum was still stuck to the wood.

From

petrifaction Petrified Forest

Browse