frightful

[ frahyt-fuhl ]

/ ˈfraɪt fəl /

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See synonyms for: frightful / frightfully / frightfulness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

such as to cause fright; dreadful, terrible, or alarming: A frightful howl woke us.

horrible, shocking, or revolting: The storm did frightful damage.

Informal. unpleasant; disagreeable: We had a frightful time.

Informal. very great; extreme: That actor is very talented but a frightful ham.

OTHER WORDS FOR frightful

1 fearful, awful.

2 hideous, dread, horrid, ghastly; gruesome.

See synonyms for frightful on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR frightful

1, 2 delightful.

See antonyms for frightful on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of frightful

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

OTHER WORDS FROM frightful

fright·ful·ly, adverbfright·ful·ness, nounun·fright·ful, adjective

Words nearby frightful

frigging, fright, frighten, frightened, frightener, frightful, frightfully, fright wig, frigid, Frigidaire, frigidarium

How to use frightful in a sentence

Other properties aim to appeal to travelers by promoting safe indoor activities when the weather outside is frightful.
Why some seasonal hotels across the U.S. are staying open year-round|Molly O'Brien|January 14, 2021|Washington Post
However frightful Nader found it, the concept intrigued him that “convergence” could be found among disparate groups.
Ralph Nader and Grover Norquist: Washington’s Most Unlikely Bromance|Eleanor Clift|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All these frightful trends are already emerging—and they will accelerate every day that the diplomatic wrangling continues.
Shaming Russia for Arming Assad Won’t Help End Syria’s Civil War|Tamara Cofman Wittes|June 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
When the weather outside is frightful, board a plane and head to Florida.
Fresh Picks|Chris Santos|December 1, 2009|DAILY BEAST

Today, it's worlds away from the cruel and frightful bigotry of that time.
McCain's Comedy Comeback|Mark Katz|October 17, 2008|DAILY BEAST
She looked from the picture to her daughter, with a frightful glare, in their before mild aspect.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
The darkness, or rather the general misapprehension, which prevails on this subject, is a frightful source of disease and misery.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
But, though defeated, he showed his spirit by keeping up a frightful barking.
The Nursery, July 1873, Vol. XIV. No. 1|Various
Most of the young fellows around here are in the Army, and the older men are frightful old fossils.
The Everlasting Arms|Joseph Hocking
Till lately they have died in a proportion frightful compared with their numbers.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil|Maria Graham

British Dictionary definitions for frightful

frightful

/ (ˈfraɪtfʊl) /

adjective

very alarming, distressing, or horrifying

unpleasant, annoying, or extremea frightful hurry

Derived forms of frightful

frightfulness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

frightful

OTHER WORDS FOR frightful

OPPOSITES FOR frightful

Origin of frightful

OTHER WORDS FROM frightful

Words nearby frightful

Words related to frightful

How to use frightful in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for frightful

Derived forms of frightful