as in to scare
to strike with fear
around the campfire the campers tried to frighten one another with ghostly legends and grisly tales
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frighten
Carley Coleman, operations director at adjacent Via Vite, said her staff and guests dining at the restaurant were frightened when gunshots rang out.
—
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Oct. 2025
Each one rests on a foundation of great ideas that can wrap around your mind like a tentacle and force you to really think about what has frightened you.
—Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025
Surveys have shown that lawsuit ads have frightened people away from taking prescribed medications for serious conditions ranging from diabetes to depression.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Like the Earth sign, the righteous dog detective Scooby doesn't appreciate confrontation and gets frightened in scary situations.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Oct. 2025
Each one rests on a foundation of great ideas that can wrap around your mind like a tentacle and force you to really think about what has frightened you.
—Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025
Surveys have shown that lawsuit ads have frightened people away from taking prescribed medications for serious conditions ranging from diabetes to depression.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Like the Earth sign, the righteous dog detective Scooby doesn't appreciate confrontation and gets frightened in scary situations.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frighten
Verb
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The former instantly adds a second layer of security against unwanted guests, and the latter emits an ultra-loud alarm while acting like a door stop wedge, scaring off any stranger who tries to enter your room.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Oct. 2025
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Actors dressed as sadistic guards and disturbed prisoners, jump-scaring visitors from the prison cells.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While film critics typically lead with the physical transformation that Sweeney pulled off, equally impressive is her ability to delve into the psyche of a woman who was fearless in the ring but rightfully terrified of the man closest to her.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
27 Oct. 2025
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And a chance encounter with ICE in August landed Barojas Solano in detention for six weeks, upending his legal process and leaving them terrified that he could be detained again.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Across America, Halloween spending is expected to reach record levels this year, including large crowds waiting for their chance to be chased, startled and screamed at.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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White disappears completely into the role without skirting parody, portraying the exhausted hitmaker as startled by his own numbness, blanked out and unsure of what to do next.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Dancing with the Stars returns next week for Halloween Night, where the nine remaining couples will spook and delight viewers with their routines.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
24 Oct. 2025
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See the video here — but don’t blame me if you get spooked!—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frighten. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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