medium
Liam was petrified when the huge dog barked suddenly.
What does Petrified mean?
Petrified means extremely scared, almost too scared to move.
Dictionary definition
Extremely scared, almost too scared to move.
Example sentences
Petrified in a sentence
Writing practice
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Quick practice
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Practice the meaning of Petrified
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What does petrified mean?
Petrified means extremely scared, almost too scared to move.
Practice 2
Which word is closest in meaning to petrified?
Terrified is close in meaning to petrified in this context.
Practice 3
Which sentence best shows someone feeling petrified?
This sentence gives clues that show the meaning of petrified.
Practice complete
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Petrified
Voice settings
Sounds like
pet · ruh · fide · strongest beat: pet
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordPetrified.
Partadjective.
MeaningPetrified means extremely scared, almost too scared to move.
ExampleExample: Liam was petrified when the huge dog barked suddenly.
Word breakdown
3 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- pet · ruh · fide
- Strongest beat
- pet
- Ending
- fide
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on pet.
Your turn
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Synonyms
Words like Petrified
terrifiedUse when someone is very scared.
Antonyms
Opposite words
braveUse when someone faces fear with courage.
Synonym practice
Want to practice petrified synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "The dark hallway made the character petrified," then compare close word choices. Practice petrified synonyms.
Word family
Petrified word family
Base word
petrify
adjective
petrifying
Extremely scary.
Related words
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Student support
Understand Petrified
Hint for students
Look for clues that show extreme fear or freezing in place.
Common mix-up
Petrified is much stronger than nervous.
Try it in class or at home
Read the model sentence and underline the clue words that show the feeling or trait. Then write a new sentence that shows petrified without using the word petrified.
Teacher prompt
Ask students to explain this model sentence: "Liam was petrified when the huge dog barked suddenly." What clues show what petrified means?
Word category
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Learning activities
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