1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a frightful sound emanated from somewhere deep within the forest
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent
I couldn't listen to the frightful details of the murder trial
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3
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
flew into a frightful fit of rage
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of frightful
Comments When the weather outside is frightful, watching TV is so delightful!
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James Mercadante, EW.com, 30 Nov. 2024
When the weather outside is frightful, there’s nothing more delightful than walking inside a hotel that’s been decked out in holiday cheer.
—Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Considering that the weather outside isn’t exactly frightful during the winter months in SoCal, our concert calendar manages to keep our social lives plenty warm in between all the extra meals and family gatherings scheduled to descend upon us in the coming days.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2024
Following these precautions can help ensure everyone has a fun night without any frightful mishaps.
—Sarah Darby, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for frightful 
James Mercadante, EW.com, 30 Nov. 2024
When the weather outside is frightful, there’s nothing more delightful than walking inside a hotel that’s been decked out in holiday cheer.
—Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Considering that the weather outside isn’t exactly frightful during the winter months in SoCal, our concert calendar manages to keep our social lives plenty warm in between all the extra meals and family gatherings scheduled to descend upon us in the coming days.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2024
Following these precautions can help ensure everyone has a fun night without any frightful mishaps.
—Sarah Darby, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for frightful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightful
Adjective
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Three years later, Dex's death deals a major blow to several key characters on the long-running soap, potentially introduces a terrifying new killer, and leaves behind plenty of questions as to how the series will proceed without him.Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2024
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In the early hours of New Year's Day 2021 in Canton, Georgia, Morgan Metzer was awakened to a terrifying sight.Michael Loftus, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Prehistoric Rock Art Sites Created 'Multisensory Experience' For Hunter-Gatherers By Aristos Georgiou Science and Health Reporter 0 A collection of prehistoric human remains has revealed gruesome insights into a brutal massacre that took place more than 4,000 years ago.Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
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Police think the gruesome gunshot death is suicide.Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Media coverage of Walker’s messy private life has been intense.Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
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The sun at this altitude can be surprisingly intense, so dress in layers to stay comfortable.AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Today many companies face the formidable challenge of balancing rapid product delivery with uncompromising quality.Wayne Yu, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
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Following that, there’s time to catch the New Orleans Saints — likely to be without running back Alvin Kamara — at Green Bay Packers for some Love (Jordan, actually) this festive season, or there’s the struggling Anaheim Ducks at the formidable Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL.Eduardo Tansley, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Eric Gordon was also supposed to provide some secondary ball-handling off the bench in theory, but the soon-to-be 36-year-old is off to a horrific start this season.Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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Former detainees at the horrific Saydnaya prison near Damascus said Amer had disappeared in mid-April 2015 after being tortured there.Raja Razek, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Despite intensive outreach, many continued to rebuff offers of a shelter bed and services.Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 26 Dec. 2024
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These agencies represent just the tip of the iceberg, and DOGE should require intensive across-the-board legacy IT audits.Stuart N. Brotman, Boston Herald, 26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Or maybe the next gen of AI swerves us even deeper into the uncanny valley in yet unknown and frightening ways.Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
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In the dark winter months, Krampus associations in villages hold parades, playfully frightening onlookers on Krampusnacht by chasing them and hitting them with sticks during a run through the streets.Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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That would be a terrible mistake, the Fienberg brothers argued in a Dec. 17 letter that addressed only Bowers’s federal death sentence.David Mark, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 22 Dec. 2024
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Leaving wet clothes in the washing machine for too long can lead to mold and mildew, which could permanently stain your clothes—and lead to terrible smells.Heather Bien, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near frightful
Cite this Entry
“Frightful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightful. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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