frightening

adjective

fright·​en·​ing ˈfrī-tᵊn-iŋ 

ˈfrīt-niŋ

: causing fear

frightening news

a very frightening experience

The man with red eyes made the frightening grimace that passed for his smile.

—Madeleine L'Engle

For a man who had tussled with crocs, venomous snakes and other frightening creatures, this was going to be a leisurely swim.

—Jennifer Wulff et al.

Synonyms

• alarming
• dire
• direful
• dread
• dreadful
• fearful
• fearsome
• forbidding
• formidable
• frightful
• ghastly
• hair-raising
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrifying
• intimidating
• redoubtable
• scary
• shocking
• spine-chilling
• terrible
• terrifying

Examples of frightening in a Sentence

a truly frightening movie

Recent Examples on the Web

Image The worst-case scenarios were almost too frightening to consider. —Dessa Dessa Tanya Pérez Alec K. Redfearn, New York Times, 12 June 2024

Several of the videos were recorded by the killer on his cellphone from inside Henderson’s home, giving jurors a frightening digital epilogue of Henderson's final moments. —Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 10 June 2024

On Thursday, June 6, Universal Studios revealed its frightening upcoming attraction will be inspired by A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II. —Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 6 June 2024

Julia Armfield turns a concept that should be frightening into a love story, one that’s simultaneously haunting and romantic. —Kristen Arnett, TIME, 4 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of frighten

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined above