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frighten

verb

ˈfrī-tᵊn How to pronounce frighten (audio)
Definition of frightennext
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

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 Examples of non-compliant headgear/face coverings include inappropriate face paint, offensive prosthetics, make up or masks intended to frighten, and fursuits. — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 6 Sep. 2026 Her mount, meanwhile, is frightened by lightning and runs off. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026 The rising cost of health care has frightened many people, including those with health insurance. — Cara Kelly, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026 The aggressive approach deeply disrupted and frightened the participants. — Kimmie Gordon, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frighten
  1. scare
  2. terrify
  3. startle
  4. spook
Verb
  • These tours take place during the day, with the lights on and, rather than scare actors, you’ll be joined by a friendly tour guide to walk you through the details of each house.
    — Tarah Chieffi, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Elmore says the bear eventually climbed down the side of the truck, and employees scared it away from the area.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of scare
Verb
  • One night, Bridget decides to leave after thoroughly terrifying her husband with an ax.
    — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Elizabeth Pizzo was terrified earlier this year about what would happen to her son.
    — Jim DeFede, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of terrify
Verb
  • As if triggered by this thought, the door buzzed itself open, startling the pigeons from wire to wing, a grand scattering.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Their approach startled the predator, who took off with the mother godwit in its claws.
    — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of startle
Verb
  • However, keeping rates steady could rock the bond market, sending the Treasury rates that influence mortgages dramatically higher and spooking the stock market.
    — Matt Stiles, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Tail Town abides by that policy and aims to educate people about uncontrollable factors that could spook a cat outdoors like cars, dogs and wildlife.
    — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of spook

Browse Nearby Words

frighted
frighten
frightened
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Cite this Entry

“Frighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frighten. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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