frightened 1 of 2

Definition of frightenednext

frightened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of frighten

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 frightened
Adjective
We’re intrigued and a little frightened by the Pear Pressure at Gravity Sourdough Pizza, which includes sweet potatoes, goat cheese and maple honey. Peter St Onge, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026 Others are frightened because the Hoffmann Family doesn’t boast as much money as FSG, and even if FSG was a little impersonal with the Penguins, at least money was never a problem. Josh Yohe, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Verb
Lee Cronin was both flattered and frightened when Jason Blum suggested titling his The Mummy reimagining as Lee Cronin’s The Mummy. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2026 When to see a doctor Ashamalla stressed that people shouldn’t be frightened by every ache or pain. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frightened
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightened
Adjective
  • The ruling leaves trans student-athletes and their advocates feeling angry and afraid.
    Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 1 July 2026
  • Pregnant mothers are afraid of their babies not being able to have a home.
    Dennis Valera, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Don’t be scared by his blue eyes.
    Erin Jensen, USA Today, 26 June 2026
  • Lendeborg being 24 when camp opens rightly scared away some of the rebuilding teams picking ahead of Golden State, especially in concert with his iffy outside shot.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • Campbell found the minister on the ground, terrified and in pain.
    Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
  • Videos show terrified residents and collapsed buildings across Venezuela as powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck the northern coast of the country.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Comcast startled the industry and Wall Street with the split news early Monday, which comes just a few months after NBCU’s cable networks were spun off into a new company, Versant Media.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 29 June 2026
  • Hyland said he’s been startled by how close the construction barges come to shore.
    Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026
Adjective
  • The first police officer on the scene quickly ran back to the station for help, while neighbors calmed the horrified Lizzie.
    Sophia Zhang, Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 June 2026
  • As a horrified Sam inadvertently observes, a creature has been sating itself on his buddy’s brain.
    Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • There were plenty of large homes on the North Fork, and more popping up every day, but the scale of the project had spooked many locals.
    Reeves Wiedeman, Curbed, 22 June 2026
  • Romanch Mahajan, who was visiting New York City from India with his family, suffered fatal injuries when the horse became spooked and bolted off.
    Ronn Blitzer , Tessa Hoyos, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • Politico reported on Wednesday that even some key Republicans are alarmed at the supplemental, claiming the administration hadn't provided enough information.
    Dan Mangan,Luke Fountain,Kevin Breuninger,Garrett Downs,Ashley Capoot,Justin Papp, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • The talks unfold amid fresh crossfire over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil chokepoint the closure of which has fueled a global energy crisis and alarmed allies.
    Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The exact same thing happened back in 2018 when Hirving Lozano shocked Germany.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • No More Mega Deals In late 2023, the Los Angeles Dodgers shocked the world by signing the game’s best player, Shohei Ohtani, to a ten-year, $700 million contract.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Frightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightened. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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