nightmare

night-mare · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A frightening or unpleasant dream that occurs during sleep.

  2. 2.

    A very unpleasant or frightening experience or situation.

  3. 3.

    (historical) A female evil spirit believed to lie upon and suffocate sleepers.

Forms

plural: nightmares

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    nightmare scenario — The worst possible outcome or situation.
  • •
    living nightmare — An extremely distressing ongoing experience.
  • •
    a nightmare come true — A feared situation that actually happens.

Related words

Antonyms: dream, fantasy
See also: dream, fear, sleep, terror
Synonyms: bad dream, night terror, ordeal

Etymology

From Middle English nightmare, from night + mare ("evil spirit, incubus"), from Old English mare. The "mare" element relates to a mythological demon that was believed to sit on people's chests while they slept.