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

There’s a frightening imbalance in how the mainstream media report on these candidates, which tends to take it pretty easy on the latter. — Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026 Reading lets children test out challenging, or frightening, situations in their imaginations. — Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 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

Two Fort Worth school district students were placed on the wrong bus home this week, creating what one parent described as a terrifying situation.

— Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2026
The immersive doc captures the duality of an extreme lifestyle with the euphoric highs of intercepting a tornado to the terrifying lows of being overtaken by one inside their vehicle as Timmer pushes his mind and body to the limit.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of terrifying

Adjective

Not to mention that the shows debuted touring drummer Anika Nilles, taking on the scariest gig imaginable, as well as keyboardist Loren Gold, who expanded the band to a four-piece for the first time.

— Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 23 Aug. 2026
In a scary scene at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, Philadelphia Eagles running back Ja’Quinden Jackson lay motionless on the field following the opening kickoff against the New England Patriots.

— Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of scary

Verb

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
Cortlandt Koerwitz/Instagram A family's Fourth of July outing took a frightening turn when a bear charged at a father outside his Lake Tahoe vacation home after startling his daughters.

— Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 9 July 2026

Definition of startling

Adjective

Banks wrote this piece as an ensemble work, not as a showcase for his formidable instrumental prowess.

— George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
So does Kevin Reddington, the formidable defense attorney who is representing Clancy in her criminal trial, taking place in Plymouth, which is being live-streamed on the Internet and heavily covered on local news.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of formidable

Verb

On Monday June 29, a bomb exploded on the doorstep of Yermolaiev’s luxury apartment in Monaco, gravely injuring the Ukrainian millionaire and shocking residents of the wealthy city state.

— Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Clary said the devices have been an extremely effective tool that sometimes make students cooperate on sight even without shocking a student.

— Kathy McCormack, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of shocking

Adjective

As horrible news stories go, few could compare with what happened on a Greek holiday island Monday.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ terrible, horrible, no good, very bad reelection campaign just got worse after Wednesday night’s debate in Sherman Oaks.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of horrible

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“Frightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightening. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of frightening

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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