frightened

[ frahyt-nd ]
See synonyms for frightened on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. thrown into a fright; afraid; scared; terrified: a frightened child cowering in the corner.

  2. afraid; fearful (usually followed by of): He has always been frightened of heights.

Origin of frightened

1
First recorded in 1715–25; frighten + -ed2

synonym study For frightened

2. See afraid.

Other words from frightened

  • fright·ened·ly, adverb
  • un·fright·ened, adjective
  • well-frightened, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use frightened in a sentence

  • I remember vaguely half sobs and whispers from Miss Hisgins's bedroom, all the while that I stared frightenedly up the corridor.

    Carnacki, The Ghost Finder | William Hope Hodgson
  • I turned my head stiffly over to the left, glancing frightenedly behind me, and flashing the light to help my eyes.

    Carnacki, The Ghost Finder | William Hope Hodgson
  • "Go along with it peaceably," advised the Negro youth frightenedly.

    The Enormous Room | Horace Leonard Gold
  • She looked frightenedly from her husband to me, then back to him again.

    Rats in the Belfry | John York Cabot
  • The man dropped the rope and sprang back along the roof to tumble frightenedly into the cockpit.

    The Adventure Club Afloat | Ralph Henry Barbour