frightening

adjective

fright·​en·​ing ˈfrī-tᵊn-iŋ 

ˈfrīt-niŋ

: causing fear

frightening news

a very frightening experience

The man with red eyes made the frightening grimace that passed for his smile.

—Madeleine L'Engle

For a man who had tussled with crocs, venomous snakes and other frightening creatures, this was going to be a leisurely swim.

—Jennifer Wulff et al.

Synonyms

• alarming
• dire
• direful
• dread
• dreadful
• fearful
• fearsome
• forbidding
• formidable
• frightful
• ghastly
• hair-raising
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrifying
• intimidating
• redoubtable
• scary
• shocking
• spine-chilling
• terrible
• terrifying

Examples of frightening in a Sentence

a truly frightening movie

Recent Examples on the Web

The French Lutin fae can turn malicious if insulted, ruining crops and frightening animals. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

Sanders has avoided a serious injury after a frightening incident during last night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024

The effect is genuinely frightening—like a locomotive going off a cliff at full speed. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024

Also toward the film’s climax, the Wizard’s mechanical mask may be considered frightening — before, as in The Wizard of Oz, a harmless man (Jeff Goldblum) emerges from behind its curtain. —Jen Juneau, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of frighten

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined above