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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frightening
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 27 Apr. 2025
These frightening and repulsive actions represent the most significant breach on our Capitol in over two hundred years.
—Sonam Sheth
gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
Mellencamp's frightening diagnosis, though, hasn't stopped her resolve.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 8 May 2025
All these instances of surveillance and data sharing are equal parts frightening and frustrating.
—Ross Marchand, Baltimore Sun, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for frightening
Adjective
The musician opened up about his mental health to his fans and followers in a 2023 Instagram post, reflecting on a frightening incident from the year before.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 27 Apr. 2025
These frightening and repulsive actions represent the most significant breach on our Capitol in over two hundred years.
—Sonam Sheth
gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
Mellencamp's frightening diagnosis, though, hasn't stopped her resolve.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 8 May 2025
All these instances of surveillance and data sharing are equal parts frightening and frustrating.
—Ross Marchand, Baltimore Sun, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for frightening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightening
Adjective
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The family eventually crosses paths with a corrupt theme-park operator (John Ortiz), his sheriff (Colin Hanks) and a terrifying crime boss (Sharon Stone) before chaos ensues.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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The additional terrifying factor was that the plane had only three minutes of fuel left — and Cruise had still not gotten up.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Every celebrity — no matter how small — had at least one stalker or someone obsessed with them, and no fan was creepier or scarier than the ones obsessed with child stars.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
14 May 2025
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Here’s a scary scenario: You’ve been put in charge of air traffic control at Newark airport near New York.—
Steve Nadis,
Quanta Magazine,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Tom and Rhyan make a formidable duo on the right side of the line and Jenkins will move to center after spending most of his career at left guard.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
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Selling a descent from stress into a state of devastation that can never be shed (only briefly reprised) is the formidable actress Parinaz Izadyar.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
22 May 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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However, her tragic demise spooks and haunts Jen, since her death is incredibly horrible and sad, rocking the whole Capesode community.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
14 May 2025
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Jurors viewed for a fifth time in two days the video footage of the horrible beating that followed.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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One night the fish was very overcooked and covered with a terrible sauce.—
Sheah Rarback,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2025
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Djokovic knew he’d be seeded to play one of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev or Taylor Fritz in the quarters, and in the end landed Zverev, which isn’t a terrible outcome, but would leave him with a possible Sinner-Alcaraz double bill in the semifinals and final to lift the trophy.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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In places where higher education was all but a miraculous dream, the act of reading can be intimidating, exclusionary, not to mention unaffordable for people who spend their days working two to three jobs and twelve-hour shifts.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
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Despite their intimidating size, elephant birds were likely herbivores, browsing on fruits, leaves, and low-lying plants.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightening. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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