How to Use frightful in a Sentence

frightful

adjective
  • The children made a frightful mess of the kitchen.
  • As he fell, he let out a frightful scream.
  • Many critics have expressed shock at the song's frightful lyrics.
  • This book is not for those looking for something on the fun side of frightful.
    — Emily Burack, Town & Country, 25 Jan. 2023
  • Have a big, flashy show trial and charge them with something frightful.
    — Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2012
  • The monster pops out of the coffin, which gives kids a fun, frightful start.
    — Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, 17 May 2022
  • On the front, there might be frightful faces, either side of the belly.
    — Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Even two years ago, that frightful acronym set neck-hairs standing.
    — Deroy Murdock, National Review, 25 Sep. 2020
  • The weather outside is frightful, with clumps of snow falling at the rate of about an inch per hour.
    — Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 22 Feb. 2024
  • When the weather is too frightful to commute to the gym, having the right gear at home can help a lot.
    — Ian Salisbury, wsj.com, 14 Nov. 2023
  • Perplexing, and on this day frightful.
    — Charles Pellegrino, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Because the weather outside is about to get frightful.
    — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 19 Dec. 2025
  • He's planned a seance to talk with his dead wife, leading to a frightful night dealing with sins of the past and ghosts of war.
    — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2023
  • Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the smells in the kitchen are so delightful!
    — Julia Ludlam, Country Living, 1 Dec. 2022
  • If the weather outside is frightful, move the party to your living room.
    — Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, 29 Nov. 2022
  • When the weather outside is chilly and frightful, a bath bomb can be delightful.
    — Kris Coronado, Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2019
  • The frightful front yard displays this year look bigger and more ghoulish than ever.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 23 Oct. 2021
  • And what about all those frightful fantasies of being overrun by copies of ourselves?
    — Karen Weintraub, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2019
  • The best way to connect is by sharing frightful narratives that bring chills, such as these.
    — Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The weather may be oh so frightful, but your feet will feel delightful with any of the socks below.
    — Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 27 Dec. 2022
  • And while the weather outside may be frightful, that firepit is so delightful.
    — Perri Ormont Blumberg, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023
  • When the weather outside is frightful, make your home that much more delightful.
    — Erynn Hassinger, Country Living, 29 Nov. 2022
  • The unique and gorgeous cat had been pretty frightful due to her ordeal, which led her to not trust people.
    — Arizona Republic, azcentral, 21 June 2019
  • By next Christmas, the weather outside could be even more frightful.
    — Nathaniel Taplin, WSJ, 28 Nov. 2018
  • But for those like him who fought there - and a few are still alive - remembering Iwo can be frightful.
    — Michael E. Ruane, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Feb. 2020
  • The weather outside is frightful, but snowflake nails are so delightful.
    — Dominic Cadogan, Glamour, 10 Dec. 2025
  • Both backs are forming a frightful duo and made plenty of eye-opening runs during the scrimmage.
    — Evan Dudley, al, 11 Mar. 2020
  • Depending on the weather, that can either be a breeze or a frightful ordeal.
    — Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2021
  • George Charlesworth saw a frightful monster in San Diego Bay.
    — Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Oct. 2020
  • As the weather outside grows frightful, the fire doesn’t have to be inside to be delightful.
    — Lindsay Tigar, CNN Underscored, 2 Nov. 2020

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frightful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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