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

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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

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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

Commuters felt prolonged shaking as trains were halted for safety checks, classes were canceled in one coastal town, and frightened schoolchildren were sent home after the temblor struck offshore. — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026 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

Verb

What frightened me most was what might happen to my children. — Monica Rodriguez-Aguilera, New York Daily News, 15 June 2026 Dolma told me that when the wind turbines were being built, their noise frightened her livestock and carried across the valley, disturbing neighbors during windy times. — Sanggay Tashi, The Conversation, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for frightened

Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightened

Adjective

If your bathroom has a basic flush mount, don’t be afraid to replace it with something more eye-catching, like a sputnik chandelier or a lantern pendant.

— Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 8 July 2026
People shouldn’t be afraid, Hammerschlag says, because human-shark encounters are extremely rare—you’re statistically more likely to be killed by lightning.

— Sam Nichols, Scientific American, 8 July 2026

Definition of afraid

Verb

There was one American flag sign lit, with some storefront decor gleaming red, white and blue, but the heat seemingly scared most away from celebrating July 4 before Saturday's big day.

— Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 3 July 2026
For a family already scared and stressed, that free access made a big difference.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of scared

Verb

Pochettino’s sources of American sports culture inspiration There were some aspects of American culture, and specifically American sports culture, that clearly startled Pochettino.

— Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Today Twain would be startled by the passivity of a once-mighty Congress that has all but crumbled in the face of pressure from the White House.

— Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026

Definition of startled

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

Definition of horrified

Adjective

But city officials don’t seem alarmed, saying that the project’s size was bound to change, and that the project is still aligned with the city code.

— Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
His long white oval scleras and perfect-circle black pupils, sometimes open and sometimes closed, are always inexplicably expressive—managing to seem happy, sad, scared, sleepy, shifty, angry, eager, alarmed, mischievous, or murderous.

— Casey Cep, New Yorker, 7 July 2026

Definition of alarmed

Verb

Don’t be shocked if you’re stopped at a traffic light and a car without a human behind the wheel pulls up next to you.

— Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
After the blowback that decision received, however, I’d be shocked if Belichick wasn’t a part of the Class of 2027).

— Scott Fowler July 8, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026

Definition of shocked

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frightened

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“Frightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightened. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of frightened

adjective

verb

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