1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a frightful sound emanated from somewhere deep within the forest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in horror
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay
had heard stories about the frightfulness of the entrance exams
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
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
Adjective
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightful
Adjective
-
May has been equally terrifying for Ukrainian civilians.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
27 May 2025
-
As the mysterious contract killer Vincent, Cruise brings his usual on-screen qualities — strict professionalism, precise physicality, ruthless persistence — but turns them on their head to embody a terrifying, amoral murderer.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
Then, on November 25, 1987, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office received a gruesome package in the mail.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
27 May 2025
-
The gruesome recovery comes in the wake of a gruesome February incident, when a body was found inside a suitcase floating in the East River.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
But Tranter and Bartlett said Trump may settle roughly into this range of having an approval rating between 43 percent and 47 percent given the intense polarization of the country, as has been common in the past couple administrations.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
31 May 2025
-
Residents of Maoming, China were treated to a celestial light show earlier this week when a surprise fireball burst to life overhead, illuminating the city before disappearing in an intense flare of light.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
Signature Entertainment has acquired the U.K. and Irish rights to horror film Eye for an Eye from HanWay Films, The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively reveal.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
23 May 2025
-
In a classic horror premise (a school dance in the ’80s, no less), a killer is picking off Shadyside High’s prom-queen candidates one by one.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
Everything points to the fact that Karolína’s exceptional talent has caught the attention of the formidable and much admired choirmaster.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
3 June 2025
-
Sinha’s strategic interventions have substantially scaled up businesses, powering a formidable sales pipeline by assisting the company in landing enterprise-level engagements.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
The war has carried a horrific toll for Gazans, with many dead amid the fighting and whole neighborhoods razed to the ground.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
-
Instead of just ending on that horrific moment, the show then cuts to Abby several days earlier.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Adjective
-
The department conducts an annual review of each state, and a more intensive one that’s supposed to be completed roughly every five years.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
13 May 2025
-
Ryan Murphy has found his Kennedys after an intensive casting search for the first installment of his new FX anthology series, American Love Story.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
The ensuing action is gory and frightening — and even Wong got a little spooked by Hawkins.—
Eric Andersson,
People.com,
31 May 2025
-
This is incredibly damaging to career prospects and, given how little knowledge exists in mainstream medical and occupational health circles, can feel confusing and frightening for those who don’t know where to turn for advice.—
Nancy Doyle,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frightful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightful. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share