as in afraid
filled with fear or dread
I am frightened of the dark
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scared
to strike with fear
around the campfire the campers tried to frighten one another with ghostly legends and grisly tales
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frightened
Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2025
In it, Hanks dons a red MAGA hat and becomes frightened when Black game show host Kenan Thompson approaches him for a friendly handshake.
—EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025
As a result, he’s ordered to attend an acting class, where students are instructed how to soften interactions with variously angry, frightened or confused patients.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Why do so many people love to be frightened and unnerved?
—Jeremy Engle, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frightened
Adjective
But still, seeing Raducanu so clearly frightened and discomfited hits like a ton of bricks.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2025
In it, Hanks dons a red MAGA hat and becomes frightened when Black game show host Kenan Thompson approaches him for a friendly handshake.
—EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025
As a result, he’s ordered to attend an acting class, where students are instructed how to soften interactions with variously angry, frightened or confused patients.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Why do so many people love to be frightened and unnerved?
—Jeremy Engle, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frightened
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightened
Adjective
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But remember to keep your calendar flexible and don’t be afraid to pivot.—
Sean McNally,
Outdoor Life,
13 Mar. 2025
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Go Dark Don't be afraid to add bits of gothic drama to bring a moody, mysterious sense to your home.—
Maggie Gillette,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The movie sees the revival of arch-villain Feathers McGraw, who terrified kids in 1993’s The Wrong Trousers.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
23 Dec. 2024
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My Hugo would chase it and bark at it, or he'd be terrified.—
Benedict Cosgrove,
Newsweek,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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As the scream queen, there’s a role that Sam’s character can play, either angry at Paul, fighting back, or super scared.—
Barry Levitt,
Rolling Stone,
15 Mar. 2025
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TikTok is eating our lunch, and executives are scared.—
Brian Davids,
The Hollywood Reporter,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Thus, there’s little sense in getting spooked in the pre-Christmas months; when ad rates are negligible, the cost of doling out any necessary audience deficiency units isn’t exactly going to break the bank.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
27 Dec. 2024
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Some comments under the video show viewers spooked by the scene, weighing in on whether the leg movement was a result of some kind of paranormal intervention or not.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In the wake of the environmental and women’s movements, citizen activists, mothers of children with birth defects and women with breast cancer became alarmed about the threat of cancer linked to pesticides or industrial pollutants.—
Amy Lauren Fairchild,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2025
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For others, the reaction may range from being confused, to downright alarmed.—
Oyku Ilgar,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Context The incident is the latest in series of high-profile crimes on New York subway trains that have shocked the city.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
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And the art world is no different — some artists are using it to help generate work, and others are shocked by its capabilities.—
Lucy Handley,
CNBC,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Morale inside the agency has plummeted, and retirees are growing fearful that the system might start faltering in getting checks out.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
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The first grooming session left her dog fearful and anxious, which is common among canines.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightened. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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