frightening

1 of 2

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.

frightening

2 of 2

present participle of frighten

Synonyms of frightening

Adjective

• terrifying
• scary
• formidable
• horrible
• terrible
• intimidating

Examples of frightening in a Sentence

Adjective

a truly frightening movie

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Surprisingly, the events surrounding Paul’s birth turned both frightening and hilarious. — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026

The frightening part is that almost anyone can end up on the wrong side of these systems. — Edward Longe, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026

Sussman remembers the 1999 Glastonbury Festival as both frightening and unforgettable. — Maribeth Romslo, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026

For patients in the earlier stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), jumping straight into dialysis education can feel confusing or even frightening. — Fresenius Kidney Care, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of frighten

First Known Use

Adjective

1652, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for frightening

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