fright

[frahyt]

noun

1. sudden and extreme fear; a sudden terror.

   Synonyms: alarm, consternation, dismay

2. a person or thing of shocking, grotesque, or ridiculous appearance.

verb (used with object)

1. to frighten.

fright

/ fraɪt /

noun

1. sudden intense fear or alarm

2. a sudden alarming shock

3. informal,  a horrifying, grotesque, or ludicrous person or thing

   she looks a fright in that hat

4. to become frightened

verb

1. a poetic word for frighten

Other Word Forms

• self-frighted adjective
• unfrighted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fright¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English frytu, fyrhto; akin to German Furcht

Word History and Origins

Origin of fright¹

Old English fryhto ; related to Gothic faurhtei , Old Frisian fruchte , Old High German forhta

Synonym Study

See terror.

Example Sentences

In a memoir, “Don’t Block the Blessings,” LaBelle credits Brown for curing her stage fright.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Fed delivered the expected cut to interest rates but it came accompanied with a bit of an unexpected fright from Powell—a warning not to count on another cut in December.

Read more on Barron's

He also noted the body horror, especially in two “monstrous” birth sequences, providing an adequate scare, and there’s a “modicum of well-done fright effects.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

These spots are sure to give frights and delights.

Read more on MarketWatch

In any case, it’s very much a work of television — not what I’d call prestige television, despite a modicum of well-done fright effects — just ordinary, workman-like TV, with monsters.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• consternation 
• dismay 
• horror 
• panic 
• trepidation