Nightmarish/ˈnaɪtmerɪʃ/ Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emotion Conveys strong negative feelings, usually more intense than just 'bad' or 'unpleasant'. The movie was nightmarish, leaving viewers uneasy. Pro Tip 2/3Figurative Use Often used to describe situations that are not literally from a nightmare but feel as bad. The traffic jam was nightmarish with no end in sight. Pro Tip 3/3Emphasis Tool Amplifies the severity or intensity of a scenario beyond the ordinary. Surviving the storm was a nightmarish ordeal.