FRIGHTFUL Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

frightful

adjective

ˈfrīt-fəl

Definition of frightful

as in terrifying

causing fear a frightful sound emanated from somewhere deep within the forest

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in gruesome

extremely disturbing or repellent I couldn't listen to the frightful details of the murder trial

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in intense

extreme in degree, power, or effect flew into a frightful fit of rage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 frightful Their first thought was that perhaps Jeff King had killed the Wellses’ dog, a frightful notion on its own. — Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026 On the front, there might be frightful faces, either side of the belly. — Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026 John Tufts The weather outside is about to get frightful as a potentially dangerous winter storm crawls its way across the country. — John Tufts, IndyStar, 23 Jan. 2026 Each envelope containing the clue was inside a box filled with some frightful creature — rats, snakes, a tarantula, millipedes, and cockroaches. — Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frightful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightful

Adjective

But getting that fissile material off the launchpad safely remains a terrifying engineering hurdle.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026
After Weyland-Yutani’s spaceship collides with Prodigy City, Wendy and the other hybrids encounter mysterious life forms more terrifying than anyone could have ever imagined.

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 9 July 2026

Definition of terrifying

Adjective

The more time passes, the more gruesome the recovery process becomes, said William Gomez, a firefighter in La Guaira.

— Fernanda Pesce, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Family and loved ones are remembering Brittany Clark, the former Sacramento resident and Kennedy High School student killed by an alligator in a Florida river, as officials there released new details of the gruesome attack.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of gruesome

Adjective

During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026
Treating fear and anxiety in dogs doesn’t always require a bigger yard or a more intense exercise routine.

— Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026

Definition of intense

Adjective

England faces a formidable challenge against Mexico in the FIFA World Cup knockout round, playing at Estadio Azteca, 7,220 feet above sea level.

— Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
However, there is arguably no matchup currently more daunting than a game against this formidable France side.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 4 July 2026

Definition of formidable

Adjective

Gerardi and his horrific murder have remained relevant in the decades since.

— Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026
To be sure, the thugs of Hamas and Hezbollah committed a horrific massacre of young Jewish civilians enjoying a music festival on October 7, 2023.

— DP Opinion, Denver Post, 6 July 2026

Definition of horrific

Adjective

But that is labor intensive, and when a fire burns thousands of acres, the time and cost involved can be too high.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Built for expansion Aurora was used to perform the computationally intensive quantum chemistry simulations integrated into ChemGraph, while the ALCF Inference Service provided access to open-weight language models hosted on Argonne systems.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 July 2026

Definition of intensive

Adjective

Spain are a more understated attacking unit, and there’s a sense that while Lamine Yamal has been excellent, there is another gear for the Barcelona 18-year-old to find, which is fairly frightening for everyone else.

— Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026
For millions of individuals and businesses who rely on professional preparers, the answer portends a frightening prospect if the return preparer is dishonest.

— Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of frightening

Adjective

And obviously, slavery was a terrible thing, and that was horrible.

— Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Horton, who married Rickman in 2012 in a private ceremony after more than 40 years together, also told the outlet that the diagnosis had been a horrible shock to them both.

— Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026

Definition of horrible

Browse Nearby Words

frightens

frightful

frightfully

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“Frightful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightful. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of frightful

adjective

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