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
There are frightening stories of swordfish charging boats, and even spearing their transoms and whacking propellers. — Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 26 Aug. 2026 The apocalypse isn’t frightening because of zombies or some fantastical creature. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 The vocals at this Honda Stage at the iHeartRadio Theater performance are nothing to write home about, but this live rendition is worth a watch if only for the looming, frightening, almost aggressive energy of her background singers. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 The Freedom 250 Grand Prix circuit has proved to be a treacherous one, and that was highlighted in a frightening crash involving a pair of drivers early in the race. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 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

See All Rhymes for frightening

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 1 Sep. 2026.

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