petrification
noun/ˌpɛtrɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
Frequency rank: #19,916 of 20,003 in the WORDED list (wordfreq data)
Meaning
A state of being so frightened that one cannot move; also, the process of turning organic matter into stone.
Example sentence
The sudden appearance of the ghost caused complete petrification among the villagers.
Synonyms & related words
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