frightful
Americanadjective
-
such as to cause fright; dreadful, terrible, or alarming.
A frightful howl woke us.
- Antonyms:
- delightful
-
horrible, shocking, or revolting.
The storm did frightful damage.
- Antonyms:
- delightful
-
Informal. unpleasant; disagreeable.
We had a frightful time.
-
Informal. very great; extreme.
That actor is very talented but a frightful ham.
adjective
-
very alarming, distressing, or horrifying
-
unpleasant, annoying, or extreme
a frightful hurry
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of frightful
Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; see origin at fright, -ful
Explanation
Anything that makes you feel horrified is frightful, whether it's a frightful traffic accident on the highway or your brother's frightful new haircut. This adjective is more common among British English speakers than American ones, but no matter where you live it's a good way to describe something that causes distress, shock, or offense. You may look frightful after falling in the swimming pool while fully clothed, but the frightful sounds coming from a haunted house might cause you to feel more actual terror — or fright.
Vocabulary lists containing frightful
Power Suffix: -ful
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And will we ever sleep well in an area that has not seen the last of wildfires and frightful winds?
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2025
It’s a frightful and gargantuan performance that should come with a trigger warning.
From New York Times • Feb. 29, 2024
The outdoors may be frightful, but indoors is where time is best spent amid the frigid cold month of January.
From Salon • Jan. 29, 2024
Yes, people may have tips and comfort to share, but they also offer a frightful peek into the future.
From Slate • Jan. 28, 2024
‘You’re going to get yourself into frightful trouble. Put it back quick!’
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
