frightened; frightening
ˈfrī-tᵊn-iŋ 
ˈfrīt-niŋ
1
: to make afraid : terrify
The movie scene frightened the child.
2
a
: to drive or force by frightening
—used with into
frightened the boy into confessing
b
: to cause to go or stay away through fear
—often used with away or off
The dog frightened the prowler away.
The high prices frighten off tourists.
: to become frightened
She doesn't frighten easily.
Examples of frighten in a Sentence
The story really frightened me.
The child was badly frightened by the mask.
Recent Examples on the Web
While 21 page-menus might frighten the coach of a position where speed and agility are crucial, these types of moments are exactly how Harris thinks his unit will mesh.
—
Noah White, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
That habit didn’t endear the Alspaws to anyone nearby, including one neighbor who threatened to shoot Brittany after the Alspaws frightened his horses.
—Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
Konstantin, 4, a sociable boy, is often frightened by loud noises and guards, his parents said.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frighten
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Noah White, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
That habit didn’t endear the Alspaws to anyone nearby, including one neighbor who threatened to shoot Brittany after the Alspaws frightened his horses.
—Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
Konstantin, 4, a sociable boy, is often frightened by loud noises and guards, his parents said.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Cite this Entry
“Frighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frighten. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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