frightened; frightening
ˈfrī-tᵊn-iŋ 
ˈfrīt-niŋ
1
: to make afraid : terrify
The movie scene frightened the child.
2
: to drive or force by frightening
frightened the boy into confessing
: to become frightened
She doesn't frighten easily.
Synonyms
Examples of frighten in a Sentence
The story really frightened me.
The child was badly frightened by the mask.
Recent Examples on the Web
Stepping out from a white van, the Israeli civilian looked gaunt and frightened.
—
Mick Krever, CNN, 30 Jan. 2025
Julie Contreras, who is a pastor and part of United Giving Hope, a longtime immigration rights advocacy organization, said her time in church Sunday was spent comforting parishioners who were frightened by the ICE activity.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025
Hosting a rodeo is far from a meaningful solution to the city’s economic challenges, and any minor revenue gained cannot justify the harm inflicted on animals in events like calf roping, where frightened calves are violently lassoed, slammed to the ground and tied up while struggling in fear.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025
During her Tuesday sermon, Budde addressed Trump directly, warning his return to power has frightened children in the LGBT community.
—Jackson Walker, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for frighten 
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Mick Krever, CNN, 30 Jan. 2025
Julie Contreras, who is a pastor and part of United Giving Hope, a longtime immigration rights advocacy organization, said her time in church Sunday was spent comforting parishioners who were frightened by the ICE activity.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025
Hosting a rodeo is far from a meaningful solution to the city’s economic challenges, and any minor revenue gained cannot justify the harm inflicted on animals in events like calf roping, where frightened calves are violently lassoed, slammed to the ground and tied up while struggling in fear.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025
During her Tuesday sermon, Budde addressed Trump directly, warning his return to power has frightened children in the LGBT community.
—Jackson Walker, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for frighten
Dictionary Entries Near frighten
Cite this Entry
“Frighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frighten. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
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