frightful

[frahyt-fuhl]

adjective

1. such as to cause fright; dreadful, terrible, or alarming.

   A frightful howl woke us.

   Synonyms: awful, fearful
   Antonyms: delightful

2. horrible, shocking, or revolting.

   The storm did frightful damage.

   Synonyms: gruesome, ghastly, horrid, dread, hideous
   Antonyms: delightful

3. Informal.,  unpleasant; disagreeable.

   We had a frightful time.

4. Informal.,  very great; extreme.

   That actor is very talented but a frightful ham.

frightful

/ ˈfraɪtfʊl /

adjective

1. very alarming, distressing, or horrifying

2. unpleasant, annoying, or extreme

   a frightful hurry

Other Word Forms

• frightfully adverb
• frightfulness noun
• unfrightful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of frightful¹

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; fright, -ful

Example Sentences

And will we ever sleep well in an area that has not seen the last of wildfires and frightful winds?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But you don’t have to be obsessed with frightful fare to fit in.

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Barabak: This may sound Pollyannaish, but I think there’s nothing about these frightful times that can’t be remedied at the ballot box.

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Even before DOGE, Musk had a frightful habit of posting online, often tweeting 100 times a day.

Read more on Salon

Nations reel and stagger on their way; they make hideous mistakes; they commit frightful wrongs; they do great and beautiful things.

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Related Words

• awful 
• calamitous 
• dreadful 
• ghastly 
• hideous 
• horrible 
• lewd 
• shocking 
• terrible 
• terrific 
• unpleasant