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frightened 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfrī-tᵊnd How to pronounce frightened (audio)
Definition of frightenednext
as in afraid
filled with fear or dread I am frightened of the dark

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
Parents at evacuation centers in the village said many children were afraid to return indoors and woke up frightened whenever aftershocks rattled the island. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 The findings could help explain why dogs often seem to react differently when people smile, cry or appear frightened. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
Before signing off, the teenager thanks her — the exchange calmed her down after Google search results frightened her. — Jennifer Karlin, STAT, 11 Aug. 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
  1. afraid
  2. scared
  3. terrified
  4. startled
  5. horrified
  6. spooked
  7. alarmed
  8. shocked
Adjective
  • David, not unlike Jerry, was afraid of falling and white-knuckled his way through.
    — Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Since the incident nearly a year ago, the victim has been afraid to go outside, according to Clifton.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of afraid
Verb
  • Midland Democrat Kathleen Curell worries some of those persuadable voters may be scared off by some of El-Sayed's positions.
    — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The size of this verdict scared Meta into recently settling a similar case brought by 47 other states for a total that could reach $18 billion.
    — Schuyler Moore, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of scared
Adjective
  • Instead, coaches have become more and more terrified through the years of seeing their players getting hurt during largely meaningless games in August.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Tempe police ultimately convinced the couple, who were initially too terrified to report the incident, to share what had happened to them, documents said.
    — Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of terrified
Verb
  • Their approach startled the predator, who took off with the mother godwit in its claws.
    — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
  • While holding Gnocchi, a large street cleaning truck whipped down the street and startled him into clawing away.
    — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of startled
Adjective
  • Their Bell helicopters collided midair, sending flaming wreckage above the heads of horrified drivers on the Pasadena Freeway.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • When Tae-ha starts a fire that erupts into an explosion, a horrified Eun-sae begins to remember her life before amnesia.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of horrified
Verb
  • In that section, gruesome murders have spooked what few locals there are, and the boy, Caleb (Atticus Affleck), has a shifty, older-than-his years air about him that makes farmer Emmett (Scoot McNairy) quite unsettled.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Despite having some experience, including one start last year, Vizzina looked spooked against LSU’s pass rush.
    — Seth Emerson, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of spooked
Adjective
  • Going deeper Fortune's Eleanor Pringle reports that debt hawks are increasingly alarmed as the 10-year Treasury yield approaches 5%, warning the move could signal a brewing national debt spiral.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026
  • This week’s soaring temperatures alarmed students and parents of the Torrance Unified School District, where some campuses do not have air conditioning.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of alarmed
Verb
  • The body-baring, barely there costume shocked some of her fans who weren’t used to seeing so much of her flesh.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Yemen’s government was shocked by slow Saudi response The Houthis have been attacking Saudi shipping on the Red Sea since declaring a blockade in July, as well as hitting oil infrastructure inside Saudi Arabia.
    — Fatma Khaled, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of shocked

Browse Nearby Words

frighten
frightened
frightening
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Cite this Entry

“Frightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightened. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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