frightened

[ frahyt-nd ]

/ ˈfraɪt nd /

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See synonyms for frightened on Thesaurus.com

adjective

thrown into a fright; afraid; scared; terrified: a frightened child cowering in the corner.

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

QUIZ

ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of frightened

First recorded in 1715–25; frighten + -ed²

synonym study for frightened

2. See afraid.

OTHER WORDS FROM frightened

fright·ened·ly, adverbun·fright·ened, adjectivewell-frightened, adjective

Words nearby frightened

frigate mackerel, Frigg, frigging, fright, frighten, frightened, frightener, frightful, frightfully, fright wig, frigid

How to use frightened in a sentence

Exhausted and frightened, they were forced to decide how to go about saving themselves.
A Veteran Surfer’s Big-Wave Nightmare|Outside Editors|January 27, 2021|Outside Online
A female investigative journalist was severely harassed and temporarily silenced by such activity, and more recently, a female poet and novelist was frightened and shamed.
The year deepfakes went mainstream|Karen Hao|December 24, 2020|MIT Technology Review
The agents sat at a table, across from Tanvir, who was frightened and spoke poor English.
Supreme Court rules for Muslims placed on no-fly list after refusing to become FBI informants|Robert Barnes|December 10, 2020|Washington Post
It turned out to be a very big and very frightened stray dog.
Some tasty, food-inspired names were on the menu for these pets|John Kelly|November 29, 2020|Washington Post

Sometimes there would be a new visitor to the island, like a wayward sailor named Gulliver or a delightfully frightened ghost named Wisp, who needed my help.
Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons Is the Game We All Need Right Now|Matthew Gault|March 17, 2020|Time
I am frightened by how much of this is caused by organized retail crime.
The Insane $11 Billion Scam at Retailers’ Return Desks|M.L. Nestel|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even as early as December 4, remarks from inside the bubble were cryptic and frightened.
Pyongyang Shuffle: Hollywood In Dead Panic Over Sony Hack|James Poulos|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yeah, having a microphone and so many people under your control always frightened me.
George Clinton on Industry ‘Mobsters’ and How Nobody Wants to Listen to a Crackhead|Curtis Stephen|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Holmes seemed to expedite matters promptly, amid rumors that she was frightened of the Church of Scientology.
How Can Katie Holmes Escape Tom Cruise—and ‘Dawson’s Creek’?|Tim Teeman|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The people seemed not at all frightened as they trooped past to begin their day.
From Ebola Country to NYC’s Subways|Michael Daly|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I went into a great passion and frightened my mother into a fit,” said Wardle.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
His silence had frightened her: what if he should resent on her the cruel words spoken by Dr. Ashton?
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
Though frightened to death, I refused to part with my reserve and made ready to go and take command of it at break of dawn.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
He went out into the garden, and the rustling of the laurel-bushes frightened him.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
The submarine scare is full on; the beastly things have frightened us more than all the Turks and all their German guns.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton