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

Hilton’s sister, Barbara Giarraffa, frightened fans and TikTok moderators were among those who called authorities. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Parents at evacuation centers in the village said many children were afraid to return indoors and woke up frightened whenever aftershocks rattled the island. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

The findings could help explain why dogs often seem to react differently when people smile, cry or appear frightened. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026

The extent of harm, after all, can be misjudged by those suffering it, and complaints are not always offered by the frightened captive. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 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