Frightful — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈfrīt-fəl/ fright·ful

Meaning & Definition of Frightful

Frightful (adjective)

  1. causing intense fear or alarm, terrifying
  2. startling especially in being bad or objectionable
  3. extreme

Frightful (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. causing fear

    "a frightful sound emanated from somewhere deep within the forest"

    similar: alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, shocking, spine-chilling, terrible, terrifying
    related: daunting, demoralizing, disconcerting, discouraging, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, startling, threatening, troubling, trying, unnerving, bone-chilling, creepy, eerie, weird, appalling, atrocious, awful, grisly, gruesome, hideous, horrid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish
    near: calming, comforting, consoling, inviting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, reassuring, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing, nonintimidating, nonthreatening

  2. extremely disturbing or repellent

    "I couldn't listen to the frightful details of the murder trial"

    similar: appalling, atrocious, awful, dreadful, ghastly, grisly, gruesome, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmare, nightmarish, shocking, terrible, terrific
    related: alarming, bloodcurdling, dire, direful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, gut-wrenching, hair-raising, heart-stopping, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, terrifying, abhorrent, deplorable, disagreeable, disgusting, distasteful, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, obscene, offensive, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, sickening, abominable, evil, foul, heinous, noxious, odious, unspeakable, vile, grotesque, ugly, unsightly
    near: agreeable, appealing, attractive, delectable, delicious, delightful, enjoyable, enticing, inviting, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome, cheering, comforting, soothing

  3. extreme in degree, power, or effect

    "flew into a frightful fit of rage"

    similar: acute, almighty, blistering, deep, dreadful, excruciating, explosive, exquisite, fearful, fearsome, ferocious, fierce, furious, ghastly, hard, heavy, heavy-duty, hellacious, intense, intensive, keen, profound, terrible, vehement, vicious, violent
    related: accentuated, aggravated, concentrated, deepened, emphasized, enhanced, heightened, intensified, magnified, stressed, exhaustive, thorough, harsh, rigorous, severe
    opposite: light, moderate, soft
    near: feeble, weak, shallow, superficial, moderated, qualified, alleviated, eased, lightened, toned (down), abated, decreased, diminished, lessened, reduced, subdued

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Frightful

The most common words with a similar meaning to Frightful:

alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, shocking, spine-chilling, terrible, terrifying, appalling, atrocious, awful, grisly, gruesome, hideous, horrid, horrific, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmare, nightmarish, terrific, acute, almighty, blistering, deep

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Frightful

Words with the opposite meaning of Frightful:

light, moderate, soft

Related Words for Frightful

daunting, demoralizing, disconcerting, discouraging, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, startling, threatening, troubling, trying, unnerving, bone-chilling, creepy, eerie, weird, bloodcurdling, gut-wrenching, heart-stopping, abhorrent, deplorable, disagreeable, disgusting, distasteful, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious

Near Antonyms of Frightful

calming, comforting, consoling, inviting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, reassuring, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing, nonintimidating, nonthreatening, agreeable, appealing, attractive, delectable, delicious, delightful, enjoyable, enticing, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome, cheering, feeble, weak, shallow

Word Forms of Frightful

Derived words: frightfully (adverb), frightfulness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Frightful

fright:1 + -ful:1

First known use: 1607

Frequently Asked Questions about Frightful

What does "Frightful" mean?

"Frightful" means causing intense fear or alarm, terrifying. As an adjective, it is defined as: causing intense fear or alarm, terrifying. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Frightful"?

Other words for "Frightful" include alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearful, fearsome and forbidding. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Frightful" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Frightful"?

There are 119 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Frightful". Common alternatives include alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable and frightening.

What is the opposite of "Frightful"?

Antonyms of "Frightful" include light, moderate and soft. Near antonyms include calming, comforting, consoling and inviting.

How do you use "Frightful" in a sentence?

Examples of "Frightful" in a sentence: "a frightful sound emanated from somewhere deep within the forest"; "I couldn't listen to the frightful details of the murder trial"; "flew into a frightful fit of rage".

Is "Frightful" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Frightful" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Frightful"?

"Frightful" is pronounced /ˈfrīt-fəl/ and divided into syllables as fright·ful.

What is the origin of the word "Frightful"?

"Frightful" comes from fright:1 + -ful:1. First known use: 1607.