frightened; frightening
ˈfrī-tᵊn-iŋ 
ˈfrīt-niŋ
1
: to make afraid : terrify
The movie scene frightened the child.
2
: to drive or force by frightening
frightened the boy into confessing
: to become frightened
She doesn't frighten easily.
Examples of frighten in a Sentence
The story really frightened me.
The child was badly frightened by the mask.
Recent Examples on the Web
But their return has also angered and frightened livestock farmers and others in rural communities who are having to learn to live alongside these once nearly-extinct creatures.
—
Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 9 July 2025
But on Friday night, the booms and blasts of celebratory fireworks appear to have frightened them away.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2025
The debate unfolded as Santa Ana grapples with what some councilmembers described as the visible impact of immigration enforcement: empty bus stops, empty car washes, grocery stores without customers and frightened residents.
—Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 3 July 2025
When a crew member called out for volunteers, the two raced into the water and pretended to panic for a scene in which two kids frighten swimmers using a cardboard fin.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
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.
Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 9 July 2025
But on Friday night, the booms and blasts of celebratory fireworks appear to have frightened them away.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2025
The debate unfolded as Santa Ana grapples with what some councilmembers described as the visible impact of immigration enforcement: empty bus stops, empty car washes, grocery stores without customers and frightened residents.
—Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 3 July 2025
When a crew member called out for volunteers, the two raced into the water and pretended to panic for a scene in which two kids frighten swimmers using a cardboard fin.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Cite this Entry
“Frighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frighten. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share