as in terrifying
causing fear
a truly frightening movie
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scaring
to strike with fear
around the campfire the campers tried to frighten one another with ghostly legends and grisly tales
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of frightening
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 27 Nov. 2024
From grotesque creatures to eerie, otherworldly settings, the film uses CGI and practical effects from its big budget in incredibly entertaining (and frightening) ways.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024
Nurturing breezes can become frigid gusts, and the quiet wonder of late fall might turn eerie and frightening.
—Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 22 Nov. 2024
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More than three decades ago, amphibian researchers from around the globe converged on Canterbury, England, for the first World Congress of Herpetology — and, over drinks, shared the same frightening tale.
—Martin J. Kernan, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for frightening 
Adjective
Its timeliness in an age of increasing authoritarianism is frightening.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 27 Nov. 2024
From grotesque creatures to eerie, otherworldly settings, the film uses CGI and practical effects from its big budget in incredibly entertaining (and frightening) ways.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024
Nurturing breezes can become frigid gusts, and the quiet wonder of late fall might turn eerie and frightening.
—Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 22 Nov. 2024
Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
More than three decades ago, amphibian researchers from around the globe converged on Canterbury, England, for the first World Congress of Herpetology — and, over drinks, shared the same frightening tale.
—Martin J. Kernan, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for frightening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightening
Adjective
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In the early hours of New Year's Day 2021 in Canton, Georgia, Morgan Metzer was awakened to a terrifying sight.Michael Loftus, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2024
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The paranormal phenomena spooking Spongebob and Squidward has a mundane explanation, but the entity flickering the lights turns out to be none other than Nosferatu, who reassures them with a terrifying smile; amusingly, Spongebob and Squidward are relieved to see him.Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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History says such a two-year performance in itself is neither a scary portent nor a ticket to further riches.Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Dec. 2024
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Arizona is known for scorpions, tarantulas and other scary bugs, but that's not all.Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Chiefs also have rookie Xavier Worthy, but the team needs another receiver on par with Hopkins to ensure the offense stays formidable.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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The designer leaned into his formidable cutting skills and theatrical bent, designing with high-tech fabrications that interact with smartphones, with foam-like materials, and experimenting in garment reconfiguration.Miles Socha, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In the show’s two signature numbers, both of them Norma’s declarations of her own worthiness, Scherzinger stands at center stage and belts with shocking vocal power and agility, surrounded by purgatorial swirls of smoke and blown out by that Lloydian white light.Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 21 Oct. 2024
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But rather than play up the murders’ shocking gore or give momentum to Lois’ investigation, the first few episodes are content to linger in the investigator’s ennui.Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Although there is high demand among students for internships and other work opportunities, our education-employer ecosystem is doing a horrible job delivering them.Brandon Busteed, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
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Even as the country seeks to emerge from the legacy of those seven horrible years, however, a new government elected in 2023 has become the first since the fall of the dictatorship to justify the regime’s extrajudicial killings and violent repression.Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Jack McBrayer plays a flustered resort concierge who delivers the terrible news to two bridezilla-esque adults who won’t be walking down the aisle in white but are still very invested in the nuptials.Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2024
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Food is terrible, the vibe is off, absolutely trash.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Only six years older than Crystal, the comedian still found Scorsese intimidating.Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024
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But what’s really intimidating is looking at his size-21 shoes.Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near frightening
Cite this Entry
“Frightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightening. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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