frightened 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfrī-tᵊnd How to pronounce frightened (audio)
Definition of frightenednext
as in afraid
filled with fear or dread I am frightened of the dark

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

frightened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of frighten
as in scared
to strike with fear around the campfire the campers tried to frighten one another with ghostly legends and grisly tales

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of frightened
Adjective
Michael was still frightened and disoriented by what had taken place over spring break. — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Roosevelt offered frightened and dispirited Americans a vision of a secure future. — John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
Last Friday, the artist Pink published a lengthy criticism of Macklemore’s on-stage polemic, writing that his comments and use of violent wartime imagery had frightened many Jewish people, including her. — Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 16 Sep. 2026 However, Stone told Bialik that she was not frightened by the encounter. — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frightened
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightened
  1. afraid
  2. scared
  3. terrified
  4. startled
  5. horrified
  6. spooked
  7. alarmed
  8. shocked
Adjective
  • Her patient, Maya, who is afraid of doctors and hospitals, squealed with excitement.
    — Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Daly will play Helen Adler, a dedicated birder who’s not afraid to ruffle feathers when her flock is threatened.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of afraid
Verb
  • And there are so many more that have stayed silent because people out there have told them not to speak up, who have scared them into not speaking up.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Elmore says the bear eventually climbed down the side of the truck, and employees scared it away from the area.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of scared
Adjective
  • Even after the attacker was restrained, passengers remained terrified.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • This kind of conversation always leaves me half-amused, half-terrified.
    — Alicja Turczyk, The Dial, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of terrified
Verb
  • However, startled by the activation of the security system, the suspect fled the scene without stealing any loot.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Their approach startled the predator, who took off with the mother godwit in its claws.
    — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of startled
Adjective
  • Gomez, 67, recalled, watching as responding officers pulled a horrified boy from the car.
    — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Greg O'Neill, 63, was swimming at Sorrento Beach in the northern suburbs of Perth in Western Australia on Friday when the attack happened in front of horrified beachgoers.
    — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrified
Verb
  • Semafor reported this week that the Federal Reserve has been probing how banks that lend to private-credit firms vet the loans that serve as their collateral, an admission that has spooked investors on Wall Street and around the world.
    — Ellen DiMauro, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The launch of Kimi-K3 in 2026 spooked them in much the same way.
    — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of spooked
Adjective
  • Sacramento City Unified School District’s multiyear projections to address its fiscal crisis relied on revenue assumptions that alarmed fiscal overseers.
    — Chaewon Chung Updated October 8, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Annual interest expenses will be well over $6 billion, a level that has alarmed deal critics.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of alarmed
Verb
  • Don't be shocked if the liberals start accusing NBA legend Charles Barkley of being MAGA.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Tonia Jones was shocked to learn that Metrolink fares were going up.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of shocked

Browse Nearby Words

frighten
frightened
frightening
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Cite this Entry

“Frightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightened. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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