affrighted 1 of 2

Definition of affrightednext

affrighted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of affright

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for affrighted
Adjective
  • The article quotes two current professors but doesn’t explore why other faculty members critical of the school were too frightened to speak on the record in what Corcoran described as a campus finally open to different opinions.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Freedom from fear mattered because frightened societies are easily manipulated.
    Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • What really scared me was telling my audience.
    SELF Staff, SELF, 9 Jan. 2026
  • That caption scared me for a minute.
    Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • But there’s plenty of agonized screaming, as well as lots of closeups of terrified faces.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 14 Jan. 2026
  • As Arnoldo’s undocumented father, Arnulfo Bazan Carrillo, drove off, the terrified teenager began filming on his phone.
    Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 13 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Authorities in southern Colorado are investigating after a sudden explosion damaged a building and startled nearby residents.
    Christa Swanson, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Leibfried was responding to a report of a domestic disturbance in the building and was startled by a loud bang that emanated from the closed door of an apartment.
    Peter Passi, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Hilary Duff isn't afraid to lean into nostalgia.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
  • To create a fresh look, Lynch says not to be afraid to mix and match patterns and colors.
    Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • In witness footage shared by the police, the paraglider is seen falling from the sky with a faulty parachute and spiraling quickly towards the waters below, before smashing into the ocean in front of horrified beachgoers.
    Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Yang plays Kieran Culkin’s stand-in, his arms nightmarishly chainsawed off as Ashley Padilla’s Catherine O’Hara equivalent lets out a series of horrified shrieks.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • Store employees became alarmed after Vandenberg repeatedly spoke about throwing fireworks at police and asked whether the store was going to track him, prompting them to record his license plate and contact law enforcement.
    Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Given the less-than-one-half-inch insect’s track record of devastating oaks since being first detected in San Diego County in 2008, scientists and land stewards are alarmed — and working to contain the outbreak.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • In a video shown at the event, Furmencio Quiroz recalled leaving with his family, his children fearful because the power had gone out, thinking they would be gone for a short time, but eventually returning to their home reduced to ashes.
    Sierra van der Brug, Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Jamila feels like the president's budget really prioritizes tax breaks for billionaires, really prioritizes creating fearful environments for immigrants in this country.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 20 Jan. 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

“Affrighted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affrighted. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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