blood-curdling
/ˈblʌdkəːdlɪŋ
/adjective
Causing or expressing terror or horror: a blood-curdling scream...
- Then there was another thump at the gates, this time followed by a blood-curdling scream of terror and agony.
- A horrible blood-curdling scream from somewhere to the left froze everyone, and they all looked towards the sound.
- He heard blood-curdling screams, sounds of unspeakable horrors.
Synonyms
terrifying, frightening, spine-chilling, hair-raising, chilling, horrifying, petrifying, alarming, shocking, scaring;
eerie, sinister, fearsome, horrific, horrible, horrendous, fearful, appalling;
Scottish eldritch
informal spooky, scary, creepy