frightened

adjective

fright·​ened ˈfrī-tᵊnd How to pronounce frightened (audio)
Synonyms of frightenednext
: feeling fear : made to feel afraid
a badly frightened child
The farmer was hurrying out into the road, and his wife was standing at the gate, looking very frightened.Anna Sewell

Examples of frightened in a Sentence

I am frightened of the dark
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Scared and frightened, the only way to relieve the pain is to sell. CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026 The story of Simba's journey from frightened young lion to king unfolds against the backdrop of a lush set that brings the Serengeti and its inhabitants to life. Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 25 Mar. 2026 Wilkens later failed to come to court to extend the protective order, too frightened to see Carlton in person. Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026 Trump’s culture wars are spreading fear, intimidation and self-censorship, but American artists, along with artists around the world, have long been the ones to speak out when others are too frightened. Jane M. Saks, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frightened

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of frighten

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frightened was in 1591

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Frightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frightened. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

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