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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He wasn’t primarily associated with one genre the way Argento was with horror or Sergio Leone was with Westerns.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
24 Mar. 2026 -
From the palace steps, Her Majesty watched with horror as the whirlwind of the helicopter's blades flattened her flowers and left divots on the lawn.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Supporters of both sides have spread bogus images of atrocities or decisive victories that never happened.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
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The war has been marked by atrocities including mass killings, gang rape and other crimes, which are being investigated by the International Criminal Court as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.—
Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
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
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 1 Apr. 2026.
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