Meaning & Definition of Nightmare in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: A distressing dream that causes the dreamer to wake up feeling anxious or frightened.

  Example Sentence: After a series of nightmares, she felt exhausted and on edge.

• Definition: A situation resembling a frightening dream; a nightmare scenario.

  Example Sentence: The project turned into a nightmare due to constant delays and budget issues.

• Definition: A person or thing that is very unpleasant or difficult to deal with.

  Example Sentence: Dealing with customer complaints had become a nightmare for the support team.

Etymology

Origin: The term 'nightmare' originates from the combination of 'night' and 'mare', where 'mare' refers to a mythological demon or goblin that tormented people while they slept.

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• waking nightmare: A situation that is almost as nightmarish as a bad dream but occurs in real life.
• nightmare scenario: A hypothetical situation that could result in disaster.
• living a nightmare: Experiencing an ongoing series of distressing events.

Translations

• Spanish: pesadilla

• French: cauchemar

• German: Albtraum

• Russian: кошмар

Related Words

• dream: A series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep.

• terror: An intense fear.

• dread: Anticipate with great apprehension or fear.

Slang Meanings of nightmare

• Meaning: A real pain or burden in a situation.

  Example Sentence: Dealing with that paperwork is such a nightmare.

• Meaning: A difficult experience, often used in casual conversation.

  Example Sentence: The exam was a total nightmare; I wasn't prepared at all.