frightened

adjective

fright·​ened ˈfrī-tᵊnd How to pronounce frightened (audio)
: 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

Examples of frightened in a Sentence

I am frightened of the dark
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These failures in public safety have led to stories from frightened educators, anxious students, and unsafe conditions for our city’s public school communities. Savanah Jackson, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025 Were there any moments on set where people were seriously quite frightened? Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 18 Apr. 2025 Authorities have not yet revealed a motive for the shooting, which began around lunchtime just outside the student union, sending frightened students and parents hiding for cover in a bowling alley and a freight elevator inside the building. David Fischer, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2025 When a deputy arrived, the victim was shaking and frightened, the complaint said. Dylan Gentile, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for frightened

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of frighten

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frightened was in 1591

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Frightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frightened. Accessed 16 May. 2025.

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