frighten

[ frahyt-n ]

verb (used with object)

1. to make afraid or fearful; throw into a fright; terrify; scare.

   Synonyms: intimidate, dismay, startle, shock

2. to drive (usually followed by away, off, etc.) by scaring:

   to frighten away pigeons from the roof.

verb (used without object)

1. to become frightened:

   a timid child who frightens easily.

frighten

/ ˈfraɪtən /

verb

1. to cause fear in; terrify; scare
2. to drive or force to go (away, off, out, in, etc) by making afraid

Derived Forms

• ˈfrighteningly, adverb
• ˈfrightening, adjective
• ˈfrightened, adjective

Other Words From

• frighten·a·ble adjective
• frighten·er noun
• frighten·ing·ly adverb
• non·frighten·ing adjective
• non·frighten·ing·ly adverb
• over·frighten verb
• un·frighten·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of frighten¹

First recorded in 1660–70; fright + -en ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see scare out of one's wits .

Synonym Study

Frighten, alarm, scare, terrify, terrorize, appall all mean to arouse fear in people or animals. To frighten is to shock with sudden, startling, but usually short-lived fear, especially that arising from the apprehension of physical harm: to frighten someone by a sudden noise. To alarm is to arouse the feelings through the realization of some imminent or unexpected danger: to alarm someone by a scream. To scare is to frighten, often without the presence of real danger: Horror movies really scare me. To terrify is to strike with violent, overwhelming, or paralyzing fear: to terrify a city by lawless acts. To terrorize is to terrify in a general, continued, systematic manner, either wantonly or in order to gain control: His marauding armies terrorized the countryside. To appall is to overcome or confound by dread, dismay, shock, or horror: The suffering caused by the earthquake appalled him.

Example Sentences

It should also be assessed how frightening, worrisome or harmful they are considered to be.

From Science Daily

Listeners rated these sounds as extremely chilling and frightening.

From Science Daily

The results were disheartening at best, and at worst, frightening.

From Salon

"Of course, the thought of being separated leaves one frightened."

From BBC

"Talking is frightening for a lot of autistic people," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• agitate
• alarm
• astound
• awe
• daunt
• demoralize
• deter
• disconcert
• discourage
• dishearten
• dismay
• faze
• horrify
• intimidate
• perturb
• petrify
• startle
• terrify
• terrorize
• unnerve