frightened

[frahyt-nd] / ˈfraɪt nd /

ADJECTIVE

very scared

Synonyms

STRONGEST

afraid anxious fearful panicky spooked startled unnerved

STRONG

abashed affrighted alarmed butterflies cowed dismayed frozen numb petrified terrified terrorized yellow

WEAK

aghast chicken chicken-hearted have cold feet having kittens hung up in a cold sweat in a panic in a sweat jittery jumpy lily-livered mousy pushing the panic button rabbity running scared scared stiff shaky shivery sissy terror-stricken uptight

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bold brave cool courageous happy unafraid

WEAK

calm comforted

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was "angry", "appalled" and "disgusted" that Jewish people were "living their lives frightened".

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

"People are frightened and angry, and the icing on the cake is the village does not really benefit," she said.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Turning to his anxious helmsman, Pericles took his cloak and held it in front of the man’s eyes, asking if this made him frightened.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

The policewoman frightened him so much with warnings of severe legal consequences that he avoided telling his daughters or bank managers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

It was unusual to see so many pikas at once, but that shouldn’t have frightened him.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Vocabulary lists containing frightened

In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Yikes! Synonyms for "Scared"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Hooked on a Feeling, List 2

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!