Definition of affrightnext

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for affright
Verb
  • Taylor contends the company welcomes more FDA scrutiny, and cautions against letting the outbreak frighten consumers away from eating fresh fruits and vegetables.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Studios that let a government inquiry frighten them into caution are not managing risk.
    Christopher Racster, IndieWire, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • Still, with McLaurin the only receiver likely to scare opposing defenses, each practice is an opportunity for the remaining players to make plays.
    Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 31 July 2026
  • Those movies may have helped scare younger viewers away from romance at all.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Selling meant losing all of that in one signature, and some deep, unspoken part of her was terrified of what came next.
    Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • In a case like the Davis stabbings that terrified a community, there might have been a public outcry if former Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig hadn’t charged Dominguez with murder, Reichel said.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 27 July 2026
Verb
  • Witness Hoon Chan Sim, 53, was sitting on a park lawn with his dog near West Drive when he was startled by the squeal of braking tires, and spun around to see the horrific collision.
    Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026
  • Wildlife experts say black bears are strong climbers and may scale trees, utility poles or other tall structures when startled by people, traffic or dogs.
    Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 23 July 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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Affright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affright. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster