Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Causing fear, dread, or terror: "Frightening" describes something that inspires a strong feeling of fear, alarm, or apprehension.
   • Extremely unpleasant or shocking: It can also describe something that is deeply disturbing or upsetting.

2. Noun:

   • The act of inspiring fear: "Frightening" can refer to the action or process of causing someone to feel afraid.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The sudden, loud noise in the dark forest was truly frightening.
  • She told a frightening story about being lost at sea.
  • The economic forecast presents a frightening picture of the future.

• Noun:

  • The frightening of the villagers by the strange sounds continued for weeks. (This nominal use is less common and often appears in more formal or descriptive contexts.)

Advanced Usage

• "Frighteningly" (adverb): In a manner that causes fear; to a frightening degree.
  • The car skidded frighteningly close to the edge of the cliff.
  • He was frighteningly intelligent.

Variants and Related Words

• Frighten (verb): To make someone afraid; to scare.
  • The loud thunder frightened the child.
• Frightened (adjective): Feeling fear or anxiety.
  • The frightened animal hid under the porch.
• Fright (noun): A sudden intense feeling of fear.
  • She got a fright when the door slammed shut.

Synonyms

• Terrifying: Causing extreme fear.
• Alarming: Causing worry or fear that something bad might happen.
• Chilling: Causing a feeling of fear or horror.
• Daunting: Seeming difficult to deal with in a way that makes you feel afraid or less confident.
• Hair-raising: Extremely frightening or exciting.

Antonyms

• Reassuring: Making someone feel less afraid or worried.
• Comforting: Providing consolation or a feeling of ease.
• Soothing: Having a gently calming effect.

Related Phrases

• Frightening away/off: To cause someone or something to go away by making them afraid.
  • The bright lights are used for frightening away pests.
• A frightening thought: An idea or possibility that causes fear.
  • It's a frightening thought that this could happen again.

Adjective

1. causing fear or dread or terror
   • the awful war
   • an awful risk
   • dire news
   • a career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked
   • the dread presence of the headmaster
   • polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was
   • a dreadful storm
   • a fearful howling
   • horrendous explosions shook the city
   • a terrible curse

Noun

1. the act of inspiring with fear