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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of frighten
That habit didn’t endear the Alspaws to anyone nearby, including one neighbor who threatened to shoot Brittany after the Alspaws frightened his horses.
—
Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
Konstantin, 4, a sociable boy, is often frightened by loud noises and guards, his parents said.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
This is no longer about ideology, this is about standing up for those who are being wrongly arrested, being unfairly harassed or being made to feel constantly frightened in their own homes.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
Konstantin, 4, a sociable boy, is often frightened by loud noises and guards, his parents said.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
This is no longer about ideology, this is about standing up for those who are being wrongly arrested, being unfairly harassed or being made to feel constantly frightened in their own homes.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frighten
Verb
-
But, for whatever reason, something has scared FSG off.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
And while the lack of pass rush production in college should rightfully scare teams away from Faulk, his size and run-game ability provide a stable floor to work with early in his career.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Viewers are also introduced to Marjorie (Blair Beeken), the activities lead at Oak Canyon Ranch, as well as Rockin’ Grandma’s sole remote worker, web designer Claire (Rachel Kaly), who appears to be terrified by the sun and wholly unnerved by other human beings.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2026
-
As 1994 approached, the United States was on the verge of hosting the World Cup — but national soccer officials were terrified that the home team was about to humiliate itself on a global stage.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But on a Sunday morning in July 1595, the groan of the heavy wooden door startled him from his gesticulations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Mar. 2026
-
That caused the sonic booms and explosive noises that startled so many people.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Carolyn, whose position in America’s preeminent political dynasty is a counterpart to Diana’s place in the royal family, is spooked, to put it mildly.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
-
In the 1990s, many companies, spooked by the threat of the Millennium Bug, invested heavily in technology updates as a protective measure.—
Kamal Ahmed,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frighten. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
