Synonym Usage
See afraid.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of frightened
Explanation
Someone who's frightened is scared or anxious. A frightened camper might tremble with fear as she listens to the scary campfire stories her counselor tells. When you're frightened, you feel fearful — you might be frightened of thunderstorms or frightened of strange dogs. A frightened airplane passenger might panic and cause other people to become frightened. The adjective comes from frighten — before the 1660s, the verb was instead fright. All of these words share an Old English root, fyrhtu, "fear, dread, trembling, or horrible sight."
Vocabulary lists containing frightened
In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Yikes! Synonyms for "Scared"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Hooked on a Feeling, List 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
"I was frightened, because I had never ever seen Joe like that before or since. Never," Jill Biden told CBS News, the BBC's US partner.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
"I was frightened, because I had never ever seen Joe like that before or since. Never," she told "CBS News Sunday Morning" as part of an interview airing this weekend.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
So if you — like many in the financial media — are worried about private credit, you should be downright frightened by private equity.
From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026
"I live in Macduff and on the main road there is a big pothole, you've got to avoid it every time or slow down. I'm frightened I'll go over it and rip the tyre again."
From BBC • May 14, 2026
When the last fort surrendered on August 17, the Germans began their march across Belgium, driving thousands of frightened refugees before them.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
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.
