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
Madeleine L'EngleFor 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.
Jennifer Wulff et al.Examples of frightening in a Sentence
a truly frightening movie
Recent Examples on the Web
The frightening implications of prediction markets Watching from across the Atlantic, all five experts were relieved that Europe, currently, does not have to contend with prediction markets — an increasingly popular betting platform which is not yet technically classed as gambling.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 June 2026
The frightening transformation, captured in a series of photos years ago, recently found a second life on TikTok, where viewers watched Saint's eye swell more dramatically with each image as a saxophone soundtrack grew louder in the background.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
The Boroughs is not a frightening show, monster snack-time portrayals notwithstanding.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
The father of two and community activist said the encounters can range from embarrassing and annoying to downright frightening.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for frightening
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Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 June 2026
The frightening transformation, captured in a series of photos years ago, recently found a second life on TikTok, where viewers watched Saint's eye swell more dramatically with each image as a saxophone soundtrack grew louder in the background.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
The Boroughs is not a frightening show, monster snack-time portrayals notwithstanding.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
The father of two and community activist said the encounters can range from embarrassing and annoying to downright frightening.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for frightening
Cite this Entry
“Frightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frightening. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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