Definition of affrightnext

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for affright
Verb
  • Come back to the conversation Whereas adults may be able to more quickly move on with their daily lives after feeling disturbed or frightened by upsetting media, children may experience more elevated and prolonged stress.
    — Anahi Collado, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Last Friday, the artist Pink published a lengthy criticism of Macklemore’s on-stage polemic, writing that his comments and use of violent wartime imagery had frightened many Jewish people, including her.
    — Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Kennedy, who was an anti-vaccine activist before entering politics and has sent mixed messages to Americans about getting the measles vaccine, scares her.
    — Ali Swenson, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Labaugh says her husband tried to scare the bear away by pounding on the door connected to the garage from inside the house.
    — Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The one common thread the Dolphins have had as a franchise in the post-Dan Marino era is the fact everyone associated with this organization has been terrified of quarterbacks competing.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The new season has ended up with a plethora of new faces to terrify viewers, including more recent Murphy collaborators like Paul Anthony Kelly and Joey Pollari and complete newcomers like Alex Consani and Madelaine Petsch.
    — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • As if triggered by this thought, the door buzzed itself open, startling the pigeons from wire to wing, a grand scattering.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Their approach startled the predator, who took off with the mother godwit in its claws.
    — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Affright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affright. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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