frightened

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

Synonyms of frightened

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

Examples of frightened in a Sentence

I am frightened of the dark

Recent Examples on the Web

Perreault-Magny said frightened and flustered migrants sometimes try to climb into his unmarked patrol pickup, mistaking it for a smuggler coming to collect them. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Meanwhile, the people standing beside the robot look frightened. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026

Witnesses are often too frightened of the cartels to testify in court. — Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 25 July 2026

When Odysseus’ men arrive at Circe’s home, hungry, asking to be fed, Circe seems frightened — understandably so. — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of frighten

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing frightened

• scared/frightened the dickens

Rhymes for frightened

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