as in terrifying
causing fear
a truly frightening movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of frightening
Chris Rumbold, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
Some of the most impressionable age groups — teens and pre-teens — are trying to make sense of a world that can feel confusing, frightening, or unfair,’ says Golodryga.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 6 Aug. 2025
Instantly, the world had been propelled into a new and frightening age.
—David Perlmutt, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2025
One of the most effectively frightening gags in the movie is little more than an actor in ghoulish makeup tunneling under a bedsheet.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for frightening
Adjective
These frightening encounters are becoming more common.
—Chris Rumbold, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
Some of the most impressionable age groups — teens and pre-teens — are trying to make sense of a world that can feel confusing, frightening, or unfair,’ says Golodryga.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 6 Aug. 2025
Instantly, the world had been propelled into a new and frightening age.
—David Perlmutt, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2025
One of the most effectively frightening gags in the movie is little more than an actor in ghoulish makeup tunneling under a bedsheet.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for frightening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightening
Adjective
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The previous version of the immersive attraction brought guests face to face with the terrifying flickering TV screen, the menacing beast from beyond, and the pool filled with floating corpses.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Rather than playing with the achromatic aesthetic of the terrifying teenager, Ortega and Inglessis focused on nude, earth tones.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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No one seems to know, and that might be the scariest part.—
Aaron Gleeman,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
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After work stress triggered a scary incident, Kelly Benthall retired at 53 and now hopscotches around the world living in Airbnbs with her husband.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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After decades of battling brutal conditions in the Bering Sea, Hansen, 59, is now facing something even more formidable than icy waves — his own mortality.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Huntington Beach: The Oilers remain formidable with the return of All-County duo of Roxie Shaia and Taylor Savage at quarterback and wide receiver, respectively. 4.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Jung-bae wound up in a room of three, with Player 001 and some rando — but Player 001 choked the stranger to death in time to reduce their head count, shocking Jung-bae more than a bit.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
26 Dec. 2024
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Fox News Digital obtained shocking audio between Cyrus and his estranged wife where the country crooner is heard berating his Australian ex and using profane language.—
Ashley Hume,
Fox News,
26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The sandwich, featuring ground meat—generally beef—suspended in a thick, sweet tomatoey sauce, has become an avatar of the horrible school lunch, a cliché that tends to go along with hairnets, greasy aprons, and other elements of canteen grotesquerie.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
17 Aug. 2025
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The stories have overflowed with a horrible, glorious narrative abundance.—
Lyz Lenz,
Rolling Stone,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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While the latter is known for its legendarily terrible English localization, both of these were highly innovative horizontal scrolling shmups for their time.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Whether your team is in the middle of a winning run or mired in terrible form, five minutes looking at the standings can convince you that a hundred different futures are possible.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Byrne has never been better, sharper, or more intimidating as a screen presence, carrying the movie with squints and frowns.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
6 Aug. 2025
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Even at just 5-4, Mirabal can be an intimidating presence.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightening. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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