frightened; frightening
ˈfrī-tᵊn-iŋ 
ˈfrīt-niŋ
1
: to make afraid : terrify
The movie scene frightened the child.
2
: to drive or force by frightening
frightened the boy into confessing
: to become frightened
She doesn't frighten easily.
Examples of frighten in a Sentence
The story really frightened me.
The child was badly frightened by the mask.
Recent Examples on the Web
May 9, 2024 Gary Usher, a songwriter who worked with Landy, told state investigators that Wilson was a virtual captive, manipulated by a man who frightened and intimidated him.
—
Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
Today, movies and TV intended for the biggest audience possible often water down their storytelling and generalize in order to avoid anything that might challenge, frighten or unsettle the audience.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Something in the sheriff’s tone deeply aggravated and frightened the man behind the door.
—Louise Erdrich, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
Garcia, who joined DeSantis at the press conference, suggested people are frightened by them.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
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Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
Today, movies and TV intended for the biggest audience possible often water down their storytelling and generalize in order to avoid anything that might challenge, frighten or unsettle the audience.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Something in the sheriff’s tone deeply aggravated and frightened the man behind the door.
—Louise Erdrich, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
Garcia, who joined DeSantis at the press conference, suggested people are frightened by them.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Cite this Entry
“Frighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frighten. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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