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

The Mahomeses launched the initiative two years ago, after both Sterling and Bronze experienced frightening instances with allergies. — Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026 But the reason these frightening scenes work so well is that Hitchcock knows there must be some emotional investment from the audience, especially when the actual events are so random and inexplicable. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 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

Robertson and Sepulveda play two friends who travel to a remote Italian village to settle a family estate, where their trip spirals into a deadly game of deception at the hands of a charming hunter with a terrifying secret (Armitage).

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
In the last two minutes of the flight, Filgueiras shifted from calmly communicating with air traffic controllers to calling out terrifying updates as the plane plummeted.

— Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of terrifying

Verb

His campaign strategy in the days before the election seemed to rely on scaring the Israeli public into voting for him.

— Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2026
The white whale of American politics seemed in reach until the president spent two years scaring it away.

— Gabe Fleisher, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of scaring

Adjective

Detroit has a top-10 rushing defense, although that defense will be without middle linebacker Jack Campbell after a scary neck injury last week.

— David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2026
Thursday’s stock sell-off looked scary — but some Wall Street analysts believe the dramatic decline might be just what the stock market needed after a monthslong run-up sent shares to dizzying heights.

— Rob Wile, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of scary

Verb

One of my co-workers tends to blast through this door at top speed, often startling a person reaching for the handle on the other side.

— Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026
As if triggered by this thought, the door buzzed itself open, startling the pigeons from wire to wing, a grand scattering.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of startling

Adjective

Their pass defense is specifically interesting, allowing over 227 passing yards per game, even while boasting one of the most talented and formidable defensive backfields in the game.

— Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 8 Nov. 2026
The formidable organization of Seminole County Democrats (aka the SemDems) was clearly a factor there.

— Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of formidable

Verb

Stevenson sprinted into the end zone for a 48-yard score as the clock expired, shocking the entire Soldier Field crowd as the Bears were only up 20-14.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
While hundreds of thousands of people marched peacefully, pockets of violence erupted, shocking the country, as protesters smashed shopfronts and set Limoges Town Hall on fire.

— Chloe Taylor,Jenni Reid, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of shocking

Adjective

The bat lay on its back, soggy and wretched, here in the waning hours of this terrible day.

— Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
An ugly fight between teammates during training camp was a terrible start to a season that officially began with a loss against North Carolina, a game in Dublin that TCU essentially sold, against the desires of Dykes.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of terrible

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“Frightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightening. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of frightening

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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