frightening

1 of 2

adjective

fright·​en·​ing ˈfrī-tᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce frightening (audio)
ˈfrīt-niŋ
Synonyms of frighteningnext
: causing fear
frightening news
a very frightening experience
The man with red eyes made the frightening grimace that passed for his smile.—Madeleine L'Engle
For a man who had tussled with crocs, venomous snakes and other frightening creatures, this was going to be a leisurely swim.—Jennifer Wulff et al.

frightening

2 of 2

present participle of frighten

Synonyms of frightening

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Adjective

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Examples of frightening in a Sentence

Adjective a truly frightening movie
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
From smoky, spirit-forward drinks to warming spices and frightening garnishes, cocktails in October have a little extra mystery. — Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026 The historic hotel, located in downtown Milwaukee, has been the subject of ghost stories for years, with some MLB players reporting frightening and unexplained experiences. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Maybe that’s why some older elementary school kids actively seek out frightening reading. — Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026 Central Florida has been overtaken by frightening fiends and ghoulish gatherings on front lawns of suburban homes as Halloween fast approaches. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frightening

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of frighten

First Known Use

Adjective

1652, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frightening was in 1652

Rhymes for frightening

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Browse Nearby Words

frightenedly
frightening
frighten into
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Frightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frightening. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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