FRIGHTENING Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

frightening 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfrī-tᵊn-iŋ

Definition of frightening

as in terrifying

causing fear a truly frightening movie

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

frightening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of frighten

as in scaring

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

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 frightening

Adjective

Those include the harrowing night terrors Tony begins to experience — intense, frightening nightmares that cause people with Parkinson’s to violently act out in their sleep. — Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026 For many women in midlife, though, these moments can be genuinely frightening. — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 16 Sep. 2026

Verb

Clumsiness notwithstanding, bringing a criminal case against a journalist who was reporting on a protest is an authoritarian tactic—a means of frightening the press away from uncovering the truth. — Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026 But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frightening

Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightening

Adjective

He’s crafted a propulsive, simultaneously terrifying and hilarious thrill ride that showcases both his cinematic chops and perverse sense of humor.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
Compounding fears was a terrifying warning from a former AI executive last week that AI could end civilization within a decade and the tech companies aren’t doing enough about it.

— S.E. Cupp, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of terrifying

Verb

Since reintroducing Mexican wolves in 1998, the Fish and Wildlife Service has employed some programs to help manage livestock-wolf conflict, like using range-riders to monitor and deter wolves and scaring them off using non-lethal methods.

— Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Few griz/hunter interactions ever move beyond the scaring stage.

— Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of scaring

Adjective

The clubhouse was somewhat somber Friday afternoon, with players still feeling shaken up after witnessing one of the scariest collisions many had ever seen on a baseball field.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
In Mexico, Yamel’s mother tells scary folktales to caution her against real-life dangers.

— Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of scary

Verb

The unpredictable motion scares them off, startling them and throwing them off balance.

— Molly Burford, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2026
Last week, an F/A-18 Super Hornet from the Blue Angels, the Navy’s flight-demonstration team, zoomed dangerously low along the Florida coast, stirring up sand and umbrellas, startling some beachgoers—and, it must be said, delighting many others.

— Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026

Definition of startling

Adjective

The decision to construct the film around precisely five-minute takes presents a formidable formal and technical challenge.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
The Gateway defense was formidable, forcing seven negative plays in the first half, including four sacks, and limited the Eagles to 12 second-half snaps and one first down.

— Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of formidable

Verb

The nurturing Moon in your sign faces shocking Uranus in your 7th House of Partnership, so your needs and someone else’s ask for balance.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2026
McNeil has made a career out of reliving the gritty tales of debauchery and explosive expression that gave rise to the Ramones and CBGB’s and shocking tales of New York in the 1970s.

— Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of shocking

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frightened

frightening

frightens

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“Frightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightening. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of frightening

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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