frightened; frightening
ˈfrī-tᵊn-iŋ 
ˈfrīt-niŋ
1
: to make afraid : terrify
The movie scene frightened the child.
2
: to drive or force by frightening
frightened the boy into confessing
: to become frightened
She doesn't frighten easily.
Examples of frighten in a Sentence
The story really frightened me.
The child was badly frightened by the mask.
Recent Examples on the Web
For the most part, yes, although children ages 8 and younger might be frightened by some of the action sequences.
—
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
Despite these protections on paper, permanent residents and visa-holders have been frightened by the speed and ferocity of the Trump administration’s crackdown and its bulldozing of due process rights, said Neil A. Weinrib, an immigration attorney for more than four decades.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
Image Image Isn’t there a risk that a skittish cat will be frightened by a dog and go deeper into hiding?
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
This has hallmarks of emotional abuse — non-physical behaviors meant to isolate, control and frighten.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
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Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
Despite these protections on paper, permanent residents and visa-holders have been frightened by the speed and ferocity of the Trump administration’s crackdown and its bulldozing of due process rights, said Neil A. Weinrib, an immigration attorney for more than four decades.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
Image Image Isn’t there a risk that a skittish cat will be frightened by a dog and go deeper into hiding?
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
This has hallmarks of emotional abuse — non-physical behaviors meant to isolate, control and frighten.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Cite this Entry
“Frighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frighten. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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