as in messes
something unpleasant to look at
people in our neighborhood think that that orange and green office building is a hideous fright
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scares
to strike with fear
a ghastly sight that would fright even the most stouthearted soul
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frights
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 26 Mar. 2026
Many movies tried to recreate its magic mixture, including some of its own sequels, but few achieved the merry concoction of frights, gore, and giggles that Craven handled so masterfully.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
But the fun, the frights, and the sense of being among fellow enthusiasts fluent in Slasher 101 and in on the jokes has been bled out of this.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2026
There are no giant frights or dynamic action sequences, and the slow pacing makes the film feel at times punishingly long.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
Knott’s has unveiled its annual Seasons of Fun calendar that includes events dedicated to Peanuts characters, Boysenberry treats, summertime barbecues, Halloween frights and Christmas cheer.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 29 Dec. 2025
Audiences just can’t get enough of films that offer frights and scares, or even family-friendly flicks that pay homage to spooky season.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Attendees will also get to enjoy the 12 pinball machines, racing games, retro games, giant centipede, air hockey, Guitar Hero, hoops, Skee Ball and so much on the night of frights.
—Avidxchange Music Factory, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025
Not all the scares and frights and bumps in the night are imaginary on Halloween.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
Dark, eerie, and paranoid (for good reason), the eight-episode season shifts back and forth from the casual grimness of an unwelcoming reality to the shocking frights of a stoner’s worst nightmare (the latter of which is shrewdly motivated by Rachel regularly smoking pot).
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 26 Mar. 2026
Many movies tried to recreate its magic mixture, including some of its own sequels, but few achieved the merry concoction of frights, gore, and giggles that Craven handled so masterfully.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
But the fun, the frights, and the sense of being among fellow enthusiasts fluent in Slasher 101 and in on the jokes has been bled out of this.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2026
There are no giant frights or dynamic action sequences, and the slow pacing makes the film feel at times punishingly long.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
Knott’s has unveiled its annual Seasons of Fun calendar that includes events dedicated to Peanuts characters, Boysenberry treats, summertime barbecues, Halloween frights and Christmas cheer.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 29 Dec. 2025
Audiences just can’t get enough of films that offer frights and scares, or even family-friendly flicks that pay homage to spooky season.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Attendees will also get to enjoy the 12 pinball machines, racing games, retro games, giant centipede, air hockey, Guitar Hero, hoops, Skee Ball and so much on the night of frights.
—Avidxchange Music Factory, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025
Not all the scares and frights and bumps in the night are imaginary on Halloween.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frights
Noun
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Don’t let clutter and little messes get the best of your weekend.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Mar. 2026
-
For tougher messes, a commercial product like an oven cleaner might be best.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Geopolitical scares that faded and allowed oil prices to recede.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
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He’s also been involved in multiple injury scares to star players in the last year.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Yet as deeply personal and dark as the subject matter can sometimes be, amid the horrors of today’s headlines, the album’s optimism is a welcome sound.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
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Michael Winterbottom followed in 2023 with Shoshana (a film that premiered a full month before the horrors of October 7), and last year saw Cherien Dabis’s sprawling epic All That’s Left of You make the Oscar shortlist.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The piercing sunlight frightens her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
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Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And while Pacas has already achieved more than your average 19-year-old, his sights are set even higher.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The Sacramento native has his sights set on reality stardom.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Frankly, the thought of being beaten by the subscribers terrifies me.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Aubry Bracco is the kind of player who terrifies a certain (male) demographic of Survivor alumni.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frights. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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