as in to scare
to strike with fear
around the campfire the campers tried to frighten one another with ghostly legends and grisly tales
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Recent Examples of frighten
Padilla told Fox News Digital that the shepherd mix appeared frightened by the mysterious events that unfolded surrounding their now-deceased owners.
—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 5 Mar. 2025
Two years ago, several small-business owners testified to a legislative committee that Americans with Disabilities Act plaintiffs’ lawyers filed spurious complaints, alleging what appeared to be a random list of violations in an attempt to frighten and intimidate the business owner.
—Mark Hillman, Denver Post, 16 Apr. 2025
This has hallmarks of emotional abuse – non-physical behaviors meant to isolate, control and frighten.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
In the present-day story line, there’s a mystery person (probably Melissa) stalking Shauna and trying to kill her, or at least frighten her.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 5 Mar. 2025
Two years ago, several small-business owners testified to a legislative committee that Americans with Disabilities Act plaintiffs’ lawyers filed spurious complaints, alleging what appeared to be a random list of violations in an attempt to frighten and intimidate the business owner.
—Mark Hillman, Denver Post, 16 Apr. 2025
This has hallmarks of emotional abuse – non-physical behaviors meant to isolate, control and frighten.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
In the present-day story line, there’s a mystery person (probably Melissa) stalking Shauna and trying to kill her, or at least frighten her.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frighten
Verb
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There were no players who really scared opposing defensive coordinators.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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In the beginning of the movie, Karsh goes on a date, but his grief scares the woman away.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The house that the Americans strategically position themselves in is home to two families; there are occasional insert shots of family photos and trinkets, and at several points these families are shown cowering, terrified by what’s happening around them.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
17 Apr. 2025
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Addie is gripping onto her seat completely terrified.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That aural reminder punctuates my days now, and frequently startles me.—
Rob Mank,
Christian Science Monitor,
2 Apr. 2025
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But the website also has messages about residents being startled, as Catanzaro was, by stealthy contractors with air guns.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The pick should help the Giants revisit their glory years of terrorizing quarterbacks and give the franchise a defense that should spook opposing offensive coordinators.—
Charlotte Carroll,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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The softer tariff talk comes as Trump backs away from his scathing remarks about Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, which had spooked investors.—
Jonathan Easley,
The Hill,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frighten. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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