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

For 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.

Synonyms

• alarming
• dire
• direful
• dread
• dreadful
• fearful
• fearsome
• forbidding
• formidable
• frightful
• ghastly
• hair-raising
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrifying
• intimidating
• redoubtable
• scary
• shocking
• spine-chilling
• terrible
• terrifying

Examples of frightening in a Sentence

a truly frightening movie

Recent Examples on the Web

After the frightening threat, the man suddenly ran off in an unknown direction. —Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2025

Serena Joy Waterford is among the most frightening, dead-hearted women ever written for the small screen. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2025

In besieged Gaza, where more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in more than 18 months of war with Israel, Christians there were deeply moved by Pope Francis' nightly phone call to them offering comfort amid the frightening conflict. —Scott Neuman, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025

Mat, per usual, really goes for a ride in this episode — including a near-death experience and a frightening run-in with a wish-granting creature. —Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of frighten

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for frightening

• brightening
• heightening
• lightening
• tightening
• whitening
• enlightening