as in to scare
to strike with fear
around the campfire the campers tried to frighten one another with ghostly legends and grisly tales
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in terrifying
causing fear
a truly frightening movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frighten
Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
The encounter seemed to frighten some members of the Joy Ministries congregation, Steed Pierce said, as some were not there the next week.
—Natalia Jaramillo, Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2025
Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder, The Atlantic, 6 Apr. 2025
Harmeet Dhillon, the San Francisco lawyer and conservative activist who is now the nation’s chief civil rights enforcer, is a frightening choice for the job, says Sen. Alex Padilla.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Verb
The prospect of returning to the role, first for a West End reprise in February and then for the Brooklyn performance frightened her.
—Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
The encounter seemed to frighten some members of the Joy Ministries congregation, Steed Pierce said, as some were not there the next week.
—Natalia Jaramillo, Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
But global climate change tugs many parents’ attention and energy outward—to frightening events and uncertain futures, both of which can feel paralyzing.
—Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder, The Atlantic, 6 Apr. 2025
Harmeet Dhillon, the San Francisco lawyer and conservative activist who is now the nation’s chief civil rights enforcer, is a frightening choice for the job, says Sen. Alex Padilla.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frighten
Adjective
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Back in August, Renner spoke about how his terrifying snowplow accident in January 2023 led to his daughter becoming a little more independent.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Prehistoric insects encased in amber reveal a terrifying evolutionary road that dead-ended sometime after the mid-Cretaceous period.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The scary part is how quickly and naturally this thinking could extend to current employees.—
Roger Dooley,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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The scariest unknown for women with cancer, after the disease itself, can be their husbands—a staggering number of whom abandon their wives in the wake of a diagnosis.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Her and Taylor Jones are as formidable of a frontcourt duo as any in the nation.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
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Anthony Santander was the club’s biggest offseason addition, giving the Blue Jays a formidable power bat after hitting 44 home runs with the Orioles last season.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But then two horrible shifts by the Wild turned the game upside down in the blink of an eye.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
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Some veterans have impressed at the midpoint of coach Mike Norvell's spring-practice rebuilding as FSU aims to recover from last year's horrible campaign.—
Bob Ferrante,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The rhetoric pushed here is that someone with a high body count has less value and will either make a terrible partner or no one will want them in the first place.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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The domestic box office is presently in a terrible state, and Minecraft could prove to be the shot of confidence Hollywood studios and cinema owners need after recent films, including Disney’s Snow White, have turned into major disappointments.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Liston was famous for being ill-tempered and intimidating.—
Jerry McDonald,
The Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025
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Being invited to speak to a group of leaders—whether peers, senior executives or cross-functional stakeholders—can feel both exciting and intimidating.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frighten. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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