Overpowering terror is a term used to describe a situation in which fear and dread are so intense that it can cause people to become overwhelmed and unable to act. The term is often associated with terrorism, as it is used to describe the feeling of terror that terrorists attempt to instill in their victims. In this crossword, the solution for the term 'overpowering terror' is 'PANIC, ' which is an appropriate word to describe the intense fear and dread associated with this type of situation.