What is the difference between terrified and petrified

English UK. They are synonyms so they mean the same thing. For me, they are synonyms. Petrified has 2 meanings, petrified wood is very old wood that has turned to stone. I suppose that was the first meaning and as OuSsamaGh points out, it probably came from being frozen from fear. But I would use them interchangeably. Highly-rated answerer. The one learning a language! Learn about premium features. Tired of searching? Even panic attacks. So the idea that someone who is genuinely claustrophobic might be absolutely terrified of small spaces is not, I think, far-fetched.

The problem I see with "petrified" in this specific case is that the idea of a cave evokes the notion of petrified things, and so there could be an odd-sounding clash between the literal and figurative meanings of the word.

But if you're scared stiff i. In BE it doesn't sound odd at all, we use it all the time. Terrified , scared stiff and petrified all mean the same thing: you're frightened out of your life about something. And I was confirming what you said, given that you are an AE speaker too. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause confusion.

I agree that it is perfectly normal in AE to say that someone is "petrified of" something to mean "very much afraid of. A bit far-fetched, now that I think about it. It would certainly have been a very bad pun, especially if it had been intentional.

I would never say, or write, petrified "of". Thank you all, especially Parla, who has solved my doubt at last. Now I know that I can say "I'm terrified of spiders" but it is incorrect to say "I'm petrified of spiders".

I would say that 'petrified' expresses a stronger feeling that 'terrified'. English US Near fluent. I was 'terrified' as the dog approached me. I was 'petrified' when the lion approached me. Serbian English US. If you are petrified you are scared to death, unable to think and act. Otto14 really thank you!! The one learning a language! Learn about premium features. Tired of searching?