frighten

verb

fright·​en ˈfrī-tᵊn How to pronounce frighten (audio)
frightened; frightening ˈfrī-tᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce frighten (audio)
ˈfrīt-niŋ

transitive verb

1
: to make afraid : terrify
The movie scene frightened the child.
2
: to drive or force by frightening
frightened the boy into confessing

intransitive verb

: to become frightened
She doesn't frighten easily.
frighteningly
ˈfrī-tᵊn-iŋ-lē How to pronounce frighten (audio)
ˈfrīt-niŋ-lē
adverb

Examples of frighten in a Sentence

The story really frightened me. The child was badly frightened by the mask.
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.
Where another artist might rely on grotesque specifics to frighten the reader, Mignola’s insinuating expanses of black ink conceal all but the most necessary details of a rich and malevolent world, filled with monstrosities, yes, but also oddities, many of them delightful. Sam Thielman, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025 As the devastating wildfires began to sweep across Los Angeles on Jan. 7, frightened residents were not turning to Netflix. Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025 Have a plan for safely evacuating your pets, who may be frightened. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2025 Begging her guardian angel to rewind time and save her, Shepherd is by turns imperious, disbelieving, and frightened. Erin Strecker, IndieWire, 23 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for frighten 

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of frighten was in 1630

Dictionary Entries Near frighten

Cite this Entry

“Frighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frighten. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

frighten

verb
fright·​en ˈfrīt-ᵊn How to pronounce frighten (audio)
frightened; frightening ˈfrīt-niŋ How to pronounce frighten (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
1
: to make afraid : terrify
2
: to drive away or out by frightening
3
: to become frightened
frighteningly
-niŋ-lē How to pronounce frighten (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ-
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on frighten

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