1. To force or coerce one to do something through the use of fear, violence, and intimidation. Marauders have been terrorizing residents of the small town into fleeing their homes. The gangsters terrorized local business owners into paying so-called protection money.

2. To cause one to enter into some state through the use of fear, violence, and intimidation. The secret task force terrorized the hardened criminal into a blubbering mess during their interrogation. The fascist government began terrorizing its citizens into silent obedience.