nightmare-likeadj.adv.
/ˈnʌɪtmɛːlʌɪk/, U.S. /ˈnaɪtmɛrˌlaɪk/ Resembling or reminiscent of a nightmare; extremely frightening. Also as adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of being eerie > [adverb] > in the manner of a nightmare
nightmare-like1832
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > dream > [adverb] > like or in the manner of > nightmare
nightmare-like1832
nightmarishly1891
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > dream > [adjective] > resembling specific types of dream
nightmare-like1919
wish-dream1934
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of being eerie > [adjective] > resembling a nightmare
nightmarea1821
nightmarish1834
nightmarey1851
nightmare-like1919
1832 New-Eng. Mag. Oct. 320 The remembrance of the horrors of the old revolution hung, nightmare-like, about them.
1847 J. R. Lowell Let. from Boston in Pennsylvania Freeman 1 Jan. 3/3 His words burn as with iron-searers, And nightmare-like he mounts his hearers.
1856 C. J. Hempel tr. G. H. G. Jahr Homeopathic Treatm. Dis. Females & Infants at Breast 25 Before the menses; nightmare-like choking.
1877 Spectator 6 Oct. 1236/1 A piece of information which makes them more ghastly and nightmarelike to the imagination than before.
1919 P. G. Wodehouse Damsel in Distress xv. 176 This blister had become the one great Fact in an unreal nightmare-like universe.
1951 I. Asimov Foundation ii. v. 66 Hardin had the nightmarelike sensation of running at top speed and getting nowhere.
1989 Representations Spring 48 The nightmare-like anecdote that Octave offers to figure the effect of discovering his Parisian mistress's duplicity.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.adv.1832