frightful

adjective

ˈfrīt-fəl How to pronounce frightful (audio)
Definition of frightfulnext
1
as in terrifying
causing fear a frightful sound emanated from somewhere deep within the forest

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect flew into a frightful fit of rage

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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 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
  1. terrifying
  2. gruesome
  3. intense
  4. formidable
  5. horrific
  6. intensive
  7. frightening
  8. horrible
Adjective
  • In the supernatural horror film, a young man wishes for Nikki to love him more than anything, but the wish quickly takes a terrifying turn.
    — Denis Akbari, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Naomi Scott gives one of the best performances of 2024 as a pop star who becomes attached to the smile demon, sending her down a terrifying roller coaster to one of the most memorable horror-movie endings in years.
    — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of terrifying
Adjective
  • No iPhone footage of the attack to replay in gruesome slow motion.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The inevitable father-son reunion is a result of gruesome circumstances.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of gruesome
Adjective
  • Motion Applied brings experience from motorsport, where power electronics face rapid load changes and intense operating conditions.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
  • As if this weren’t enough for one day, Venus will also make its debut in the secretive and smoldering sign of Scorpio, where the love planet trades light-hearted flirtation for something deeper and way more intense.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • Soldier Field and Wrigley Field will have formidable new competition.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Importantly, such research demonstrated the formidable risk associated with self-criticism for postpartum depression and anxiety, as well as for disruptions in mother-child communication, which might exacerbate postpartum psychopathology.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of formidable
Adjective
  • The chilling new detail about Jesus Acosta’s horrific spree was revealed at the 31-year-old ex-con’s arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court late Sunday, where he was ordered held without bail for the two cold-blooded shootings.
    — John Annese, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Then there is the horrific crash on the McHenry County side of the Fox River, where on July 25 Alan Telmini and Magdalena Jablonska, both from Des Plaines, were cruising the river south of the McHenry Dam.
    — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of horrific
Adjective
  • Saylor Hayes, 5, who was the subject of an intensive search involving hundreds of people and multiple agencies, was found in South Carolina on Sunday.
    — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Authorities point to the Golden State’s intensive regulatory environment as a factor.
    — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of intensive
Adjective
  • Poty remembers his most frightening confrontation, from a couple of years ago.
    — Marina Dias, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2026
  • As its frightening trailers have shown, Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Hoyeon play villagers facing off with a mysterious and violent creature.
    — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • Turkish football is a chaotic, infuriating, sometimes horrible but always entertaining place.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The defense says their client had no control over her fatal actions despite the clear planning of the horrible event.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrible

Browse Nearby Words

frightens
frightful
frightfully
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Cite this Entry

“Frightful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightful. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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