as in afraid
filled with fear or dread
I am frightened of the dark
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frightened
Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The hairs on the tail of the groundhog can stand straight up when the animal is frightened, the Fish and Wildlife Service said.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026
And my father—lovable but imposing, a strapping six feet three inches tall with a thick, bristly mustache and a rumbling Sergeant Schultz accent that frightened my friends half to death—loved to tell stories.
—CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frightened
Adjective
Both release a strong spray, or musk, when frightened.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The hairs on the tail of the groundhog can stand straight up when the animal is frightened, the Fish and Wildlife Service said.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
While some passengers were said to have been frightened and crying, witnesses to the crash didn’t immediately believe there were any serious injuries.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026
And my father—lovable but imposing, a strapping six feet three inches tall with a thick, bristly mustache and a rumbling Sergeant Schultz accent that frightened my friends half to death—loved to tell stories.
—CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frightened
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightened
Adjective
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Don’t be afraid to wear these shoes to the fullest.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Feb. 2026
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Thank you for your attempt at helping in the noble cause of mannerliness, but Miss Manners is afraid that your suggestion represents the problem, not the solution.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Everyone sees what’s happening, but everyone’s scared to talk.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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After all, the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre only scared away investors from China for a few years; opportunities to make money in Deng Xiaoping’s market economy soon lured them back.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Rightly disappointed, Warren wasn’t entirely terrified.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
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There is a 9-year-old girl sitting terrified and tearful and blaming herself for wanting to see Disney.—
Heidi Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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My cat was startled by a loud noise from outside and ran across the apartment with the needle in her mouth.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
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Twyla Tharp’s ballet Push Comes to Shove, which premiered in 1976, startled and delighted audiences with its coy, self-referential humor, and its flirtation with popular dance styles such as jazz and tango.—
Sara Krolewski,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The partygoers don’t really know how to react until Stab interrupts the performance to choke Kid out, and then everyone becomes horrified.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
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You’re just horrified at what those kinds of impacts have.—
Andrew Dampf,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The midterms are coming, and older women voters are spooked about the economy.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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Some guys, even transfers, get in their first game in this environment and then play a little spooked.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The experiment ended early because the researchers became alarmed by how fast previously ordinary people devolved into violence when shielded from accountability.—
William Robiner,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
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So don’t be alarmed because this is Mother Nature’s master plan in action.—
Jill Schildhouse,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The timing of the resignation shocked players and union staff.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Her mom, Stefanie, brought her in to a doctor and when the X-rays came back, they were shocked to find a 56-degree curve in her spine.—
Marielle Mohs,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightened. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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