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
In class, Danny continues to be disorderly, challenging Maria’s authority, throwing stuff when angry, completely distracting and even frightening the other students.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Three seasons later, something just as frightening exists.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
The alternative — the unknown — is more frightening still.
—Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Rumor, a frightening, quasi-divine personification, is an essential element in the Aeneid.
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frightening
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Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Three seasons later, something just as frightening exists.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
The alternative — the unknown — is more frightening still.
—Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Rumor, a frightening, quasi-divine personification, is an essential element in the Aeneid.
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frightening
Cite this Entry
“Frightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frightening. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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