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
Two years ago, several small-business owners testified to a legislative committee that Americans with Disabilities Act plaintiffs’ lawyers filed spurious complaints, alleging what appeared to be a random list of violations in an attempt to frighten and intimidate the business owner.
—
Mark Hillman, Denver Post, 16 Apr. 2025
This has hallmarks of emotional abuse – non-physical behaviors meant to isolate, control and frighten.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
In the present-day story line, there’s a mystery person (probably Melissa) stalking Shauna and trying to kill her, or at least frighten her.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
The foreign aid freeze frightened me, so at our house five doughnuts instantly disappeared.
—Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
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Mark Hillman, Denver Post, 16 Apr. 2025
This has hallmarks of emotional abuse – non-physical behaviors meant to isolate, control and frighten.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
In the present-day story line, there’s a mystery person (probably Melissa) stalking Shauna and trying to kill her, or at least frighten her.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
The foreign aid freeze frightened me, so at our house five doughnuts instantly disappeared.
—Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 4 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 22 Apr. 2025.
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