frightful

adjective

fright·​ful ˈfrīt-fəl How to pronounce frightful (audio)
1
: causing intense fear or alarm : terrifying
2
: startling especially in being bad or objectionable
a frightful novel
3
: extreme
frightful thirst
frightfully adverb
frightfulness noun

Examples of frightful in a Sentence

As he fell, he let out a frightful scream. a frightful illness that causes extreme pain The children made a frightful mess of the kitchen. Many critics have expressed shock at the song's frightful lyrics.
Recent Examples on the Web Here's why dogs and cats may not mix well with frightful Halloween yard decorations. Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2024 As noted, there are limitations right now with how much generative AI can be your faithful but not frightful advisor on these matters. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024 Six Flags will be transformed this spooky season with a frightful array of haunted attractions, scare zones, entertainment shows and Halloween themed rides. Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2024 But even in states with tighter regulations, cases of frightful mix-ups and mismanagement crop up, traumatizing already-grieving families and sparking public outrage. Christina Coulter, Fox News, 29 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for frightful 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frightful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of frightful was in 1607

Dictionary Entries Near frightful

Cite this Entry

“Frightful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frightful. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

frightful

adjective
fright·​ful ˈfrīt-fəl How to pronounce frightful (audio)
1
: causing fear or alarm
2
: causing shock or horror
a frightful novel
3
: very strong
a frightful thirst
frightfully adverb
frightfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on frightful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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