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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
flew into a frightful fit of rage
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frightful
Moments after the game begins, a frightful hurricane takes young Hazel Flood’s home.
—
Harold Goldberg, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Needless to say, those of us who remember 1987 are trembling, and were expecting a frightful jobs report.
—Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Looking up at the sky and seeing the moon turn red can be a frightful but also intriguing sight.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025
The weather outside may still be frightful, but Joanna Gaines is already ushering in major spring vibes.
—Averi Baudler, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frightful
Harold Goldberg, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Needless to say, those of us who remember 1987 are trembling, and were expecting a frightful jobs report.
—Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Looking up at the sky and seeing the moon turn red can be a frightful but also intriguing sight.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025
The weather outside may still be frightful, but Joanna Gaines is already ushering in major spring vibes.
—Averi Baudler, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frightful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightful
Adjective
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Whether the result of drugs, alcohol or general hysteria, these terrifying men would enter trance-like states and charge into battle, ignoring severe injuries and collapsing into a feeble heap immediately after the fight concluded.—
Drew Gerber,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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John Hoffman via Facebook In a statement released on Thursday night, the Hoffman family recounted the terrifying attack, saying they were woken up by someone impersonating an officer who was banging on their door at 2 a.m.—
Stephen Swanson,
CBS News,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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In the wake of the gruesome shootings of two Minnesota Democratic lawmakers and their spouses, Lee took to social media.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2025
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So prepare for more gruesome kills, more gross-outs, more insight into how a society might actually look a generation after an unfathomable event.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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There were times when the twin drama got too intense.—
Maris Kreizman,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2025
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Drilling defense: Every day at practice, the Broncos execute intense, one-on-one, full-court defensive slide drills.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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But Martone is one of the very best prospects in this draft and gives the Flyers size, high-end skill (he’s got plus traits as a shooter, handler and playmaker), and a formidable one-two punch at right wing with Matvei Michkov.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
27 June 2025
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The actress portrayed formidable sensei Kim Da-Eun on the Netflix series that ended in February after six seasons.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Remember the horrific pro-Western regime of the Shah with its 150,000+ political prisoners?—
Paul Bedard,
The Washington Examiner,
21 June 2025
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Hogg’s political genesis began as a senior at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland when the horrific shooting occurred in 2018.—
Maximo Bratter,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Meta is also making major investments in geothermal technology as a less fossil fuel–intensive way to generate power.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
19 June 2025
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Apex scavengers are disproportionately affected by activities like intensive livestock production, land use changes and the wildlife trade.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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Which isn’t to say that the film isn’t frightening.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2025
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The fumes are certainly easier to ignore or deny than the visceral, immediate violence of serial murder—which is much rarer, and yet, for many, much more frightening.—
Sarah Weinman,
The Atlantic,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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Rarely great, and consistently cringey in that NHL way we’re used to by now, but rarely terrible.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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Gi-hun is left with a terrible choice: kill the baby and survive, or sacrifice himself so that the baby can live.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frightful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightful. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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