FRIGHTENED Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

frightened 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfrī-tᵊnd

Definition of frightened

as in afraid

filled with fear or dread I am frightened of the dark

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

frightened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of frighten

as in scared

to strike with fear around the campfire the campers tried to frighten one another with ghostly legends and grisly tales

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 frightened

Adjective

During her own pregnancy, Panettiere recalled becoming frightened when an OB-GYN told her that her baby’s arms and legs did not appear to be growing as quickly as the rest of her body. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026 Officers initially discovered more than 30 cats and kittens living in unsafe conditions aboard the vessel, with many appearing frightened and malnourished. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Verb

Fig, a dog from Tulare County, disappeared after becoming frightened by fireworks and gunfire during Fourth of July celebrations, according to authorities. — Denis Akbari, USA Today, 22 July 2026 Fig, an Australian shepherd, ran away from home after getting frightened by July Fourth fireworks. — ABC News, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for frightened

Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightened

Adjective

The most impressive trick Paranormal Activity pulls off is making an entire theater — devotees and newcomers alike — afraid to look away, and giving them one hell of a good time while doing it.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
What’s left is a vaguely political YouTube series afraid of its own tail, incapable of being actually relatable and too cowardly to own the batshit truths of these people’s lives.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of afraid

Adjective

There, a terrified teenage girl would be filmed fleeing before she was consumed by a blinding flash of light and then found dead, bearing unexplained marks on her body.

— Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
During the attack, terrified students huddled together under their desks, sobbing as gunshots rang out nearby, video filmed inside a classroom and verified by CNN showed.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of terrified

Verb

Of those who were injured, officials said that many were hurt while falling down or hitting themselves against furniture after being startled by the earthquake while sleeping.

— Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026
There’s nothing worse than waking up in the middle of a super restful sleep cycle, whether you are startled by the neighbor’s dog or an unwanted text message.

— Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of startled

Verb

Know More Saudi Arabia has been working on several measures in a bid to boost trading volumes on the stock exchange and reenergize new stock listings that had been faltering even before the Iran war spooked investors.

— Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Ukraine’s neighbors are on alert Russia’s relentless onslaught has spooked other European countries, especially those bordering Ukraine, which fear spreading attacks from Moscow.

— Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of spooked

Adjective

The proposal to paint the building has alarmed preservationists, architects, historians and others who argue that granite is not meant to be painted and that paint would trap moisture and degrade the stone.

— Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Chan's death comes after celebrity blogger Perez Hilton also alarmed fans on a TikTok livestream when police were called to his home after reports of self-harm.

— Moises Mendez II, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of alarmed

Verb

In 1974, the New York City music scene was shocked into consciousness by the violently new and raw sound of a band of misfits from Queens called the Ramones.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
The family's decision to return home to Harry's home country after six years in California shocked both sides of the Atlantic, sparking a range of reactions from confusion to celebration.

— Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of shocked

Browse Nearby Words

frighten

frightened

frightening

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Frightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightened. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of frightened

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

kith

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes