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
In a parliamentary debate in October, Blair McDougall, a Scottish MP, said his Hong Kong constituents were frightened.
—
Cora Engelbrecht, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2025
Do the spectres of Russia, China, and North Korea actually frighten people in the United States?
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Cora Engelbrecht, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2025
Do the spectres of Russia, China, and North Korea actually frighten people in the United States?
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frighten
Verb
-
Start to say no to distractions that do not serve your higher purpose, and start saying yes to the things that challenge you, stretch you and even scare you a little.—
Melissa Sierra,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
-
What scares and excites you about where AI is headed for the next generation of artists?—
Lily Marks,
Time,
5 May 2025
Verb
-
The prospective repercussions terrify the corner of the AI universe concerned about safety, industry experts said, particularly as leading players pursue artificial general intelligence, or AGI, which is technology that rivals or exceeds human intelligence.—
Hayden Field,Jonathan Vanian,Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
14 May 2025
-
The radiotherapy had caused swelling in my brain—apparently a normal response, but still terrifying.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 May 2025
Verb
-
Sea pens can produce a bioluminescent glow when disturbed, flashing a greenish light to startle predators such as sea stars and nudibranchs.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
-
Long time viewers of 60 Minutes are understandably startled by these high level fireworks.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
8 May 2025
Verb
-
Fast-casual rival Chipotle said its transactions fell 2.3% in the first quarter as consumers pulled back their spending in February, spooked by economic uncertainty.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
15 May 2025
-
President Trump’s campaign of import tariffs has consumers spooked about looming price hikes on imports from around the globe.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frighten. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share