frightened

1 of 2

adjective

fright·​ened ˈfrī-tᵊnd 

: feeling fear : made to feel afraid

a badly frightened child

The farmer was hurrying out into the road, and his wife was standing at the gate, looking very frightened.

—Anna Sewell

frightened

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of frighten

Synonyms of frightened

Adjective

• afraid
• terrified
• scared
• horrified
• alarmed
• shocked
• fearful

Examples of frightened in a Sentence

Adjective

I am frightened of the dark

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Discovering that your identity has been stolen can leave you feeling angry, frightened and unsure where to begin. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

In one video, a young orangutan can be seen crouching in the corner of a small, dark crate, its frightened eyes wide open. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Today’s Central Park, with its traffic, crowds and noise, is no place to ask a frightened animal to haul a thousand-pound carriage. — Al Sharpton, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026

Some Colorado State University students say they were left confused and frightened Monday evening after a police shooting on campus. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of frighten

First Known Use

Adjective

1591, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing frightened

• scared/frightened the dickens

Rhymes for frightened

• enlightened
• brightened
• heightened
• lightened
• tightened
• unenlightened