Synonym Usage
See afraid.
Other Word Forms
Derived 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.
People are frustrated, frightened and angry about homelessness “and the crime associated with it,” Ron said in an email.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026
She also recalled how she had found one of her children, aged 10, "curled up at the top of stairs, alone and frightened", having "found out in the worst way possible" through overheard conversations.
From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026
Even Betty’s feet are frightened: Her big toes briefly take on the form of faces and hug each other in fear.
From The Wall Street Journal • 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
His hackles were up but he didn’t seem frightened.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
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.
