frightened

adjective

fright·​ened ˈfrī-tᵊnd How to pronounce frightened (audio)
Synonyms of frightenednext
: 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.
Angel is frightened, but Rue promises to come back for her. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026 Videos shared on social media showed multiple fights breaking out in front of an outdoor bar area, followed by a frightened crowd of dozens running away. ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026 Easton Dameron was one of the many drivers who were frightened to suddenly find themselves in the middle of a very dangerous situation. Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026 Chesney the Kangaroo’s Close Calls and Cold-Water Dash The team managed to get close to Chesney twice, but the frightened kangaroo bolted both times. Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2026 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 28 Apr. 2026.

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