as in terrifying
causing fear
a truly frightening movie
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scaring
to strike with fear
around the campfire the campers tried to frighten one another with ghostly legends and grisly tales
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Recent Examples of frightening
Julie Creswell, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Today, some estimates suggest that there are only 800 Christians left in Palestine—under the frightening threat of extinction.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
There are so many frightening images, but one in particular caught our attention this morning.
—ABC News, 12 Jan. 2025
Now, the Food and Drug Administration prescribes 11 different warning labels for tobacco products, complemented by deliberately frightening images.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for frightening 
Adjective
But don’t expect mocktail and near-beer makers to start denouncing alcohol or citing frightening statistics from medical journals to make their case.
—Julie Creswell, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Today, some estimates suggest that there are only 800 Christians left in Palestine—under the frightening threat of extinction.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
There are so many frightening images, but one in particular caught our attention this morning.
—ABC News, 12 Jan. 2025
Now, the Food and Drug Administration prescribes 11 different warning labels for tobacco products, complemented by deliberately frightening images.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for frightening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightening
Adjective
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Cumberbatch, in a few moments, expresses the depth of this father’s agony, the terrifying chasm of it.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2025
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Six episodes centre on a variety of different dinosaurs, from terrifying carnivores to docile herbivores.—
John Yoo and John Shu,
Newsweek,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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On top of all that, Carolina as an organization views cap space as an opportunity, not a scary thing.—
Pierre LeBrun,
The Athletic,
25 Jan. 2025
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Coupled with the growth of Bills blockers, Allen’s scary run threat has unclogged rushing lanes for teammates such as running back James Cook, whose 16 rushing touchdowns led the NFL this season.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Despite this, in 1980, in a turning point that helped give rise to the formidable power of the New Right, Reagan continued to lean heavily on the Panama issue in his successful campaign against Carter.—
Julie Greene / Made by History,
TIME,
22 Jan. 2025
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When Judkins’ 70-yard run set up his 1-yard scoring run for a 28-7 lead, Leonard and the Fighting Irish faced a formidable deficit that couldn’t be addressed on more quarterback keepers.—
Charles Odum,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Jung-bae wound up in a room of three, with Player 001 and some rando — but Player 001 choked the stranger to death in time to reduce their head count, shocking Jung-bae more than a bit.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
26 Dec. 2024
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Fox News Digital obtained shocking audio between Cyrus and his estranged wife where the country crooner is heard berating his Australian ex and using profane language.—
Ashley Hume,
Fox News,
26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Traffic was horrible and the private crews can’t turn on a siren, ignore traffic laws, and drive on the wrong side of the road like public firefighters.—
Joseph Bien-Kahn,
Rolling Stone,
24 Jan. 2025
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Recommended Trump moves from ‘American carnage’ to ‘a horrible betrayal’ in second inaugural Juries also convicted some on charges of seditious conspiracy, which refers to activities that undermine a state without directly attacking it.—
Patrik Jonsson,
The Christian Science Monitor,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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While this is terrible for the environment, customer satisfaction, and retailers’ bottom lines, the truth is the industry has created a monster and easy and free returns have become the basic consumer expectation.—
Steve Dennis,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Gerulaitis’s gallows humour deflects from the fact that his terrible records against Connors and Borg took a big toll on his confidence.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Restaurants are making wine lists shorter and less intimidating.—
Alexis Soloski,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2025
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GTs are known to be big, cumbersome and heavy – often a little intimidating for the experienced and inexperienced riders alike.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
11 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near frightening
Cite this Entry
“Frightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightening. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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