frighten

fright·en

verb \ˈfrī-t^ən\

: to cause (someone) to become afraid

: to become afraid

fright·enedfright·en·ing \ˈfrī-t^ən-iŋ, ˈfrīt-niŋ\

Full Definition of FRIGHTEN

transitive verb

1

:  to make afraid :  terrify

2

:  to drive or force by frightening <frightened the boy into confessing>

intransitive verb

:  to become frightened

— fright·en·ing·ly \-t^ən-iŋ-lē, -niŋ-lē\ adverb

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Examples of FRIGHTEN

1. The story really frightened me.
2. The child was badly frightened by the mask.

First Known Use of FRIGHTEN

1630

Related to FRIGHTEN

Synonyms

affright, alarm (also alarum), fright, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, shock, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize, give one the creeps, make one's flesh creep (or crawl)

Antonyms

reassure

Related Words

appall (also appal), bowl over, dismay, floor, jolt, shake, shake up; amaze, astound, awe; chill, daunt, demoralize, dispirit, emasculate, psych (out), undo, unman, unnerve, unstring; discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distract, distress, disturb, perturb, unsettle, upset, worry

Near Antonyms

assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe; embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, steel

Rhymes with FRIGHTEN

brighten, Brighton, chitin, chiton, heighten, lighten, tighten, titan, triton, whiten