as in horror
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay
had heard stories about the frightfulness of the entrance exams
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightfulness
Noun
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No amount of gore or ghastliness is off limits for the series, produced by horror champions Blumhouse, as Nicole Kidman's titular medical examiner pores over the remains of the dead.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026 -
In ‘Leviticus,’ Adrian Chiarella harnesses horror’s visceral power to confront homophobia with intelligence and imaginative flair, transforming a story of young love under siege into a gripping, urgent debut.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Our research examined how social media functions not simply as a space for outrage but also as a tool for truth-telling, collective memory and potentially atrocity prevention.—
Arnaud Kurze,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
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This is just a small, partial list of atrocities against Americans since the Islamic Revolution in Iran.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Perhaps its incorporation of vogue ideas dazzles critics who might otherwise discern its awfulness (Amazon’s Transparent).—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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There is no way to sugarcoat the awfulness of those months of anxiety.—
Kate Callen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Frightfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightfulness. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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