frighten

First used by Ottoman military "mehter" bands to frighten and demoralise the enemy, cymbals were a useful tool for an empire on the warpath.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

I was aware that I didn’t want to frighten my kids with it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

“My concern is about the publicizing of these kinds of incidents as a tool to frighten people,” Weiser said.

From Salon ● May 14, 2026

In his speech to young people, the prime minister said he did not want to "frighten" his audience or put pressure on them.

From BBC ● Apr. 4, 2026

“You’re not nervous, are you? Did that story frighten you?”

From "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson

It frightens me how painfully ironic it feels to cover a film about my industry’s demise when it was “The Devil Wears Prada” that pointed me here in the first place.

From Salon ● May 1, 2026

I’m not here to persuade you to fly if it frightens you that much.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 9, 2026

Desai: It looked at year end like Kevin Hassett’s star was on the rise, but none of the names discussed frightens me.

From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 2026

Its ultimate goal remains independence but its current leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, has taken a fresh approach, acknowledging that the idea of Wales going it alone frightens some voters.

From BBC ● Nov. 19, 2025

“Junie, please grab your things and come to the office with me,” she says in a soft voice that frightens me.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council Alec Brown said people were frightened and the council's "fundamental" priority was for them to feel safe in their homes.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

"My condition got worse over several days. Being told I needed emergency surgery is something I'll never forget. I was frightened I might die," the factory worker added.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

His favorite musician is Prince, but when the book begins, he’s too frightened to buy the artist’s new album, “Lovesexy.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

Both Oscar-nominated, Davis and Sarandon play beautifully off each other, funny and loose in one moment, frightened or furious the next.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

Chase couldn’t tell what it was, but it frightened him so badly that he nearly sucked in a lungful of water.

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith

The truly frightening thing, for a college football world that would like nothing more than to be rid of him, is that Kiffin is only getting started.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

I walk down the street and I see an alarming number of people wearing weighted walking vests now, which is so frightening that it requires me to catch my breath every now and again.

From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026

He said the team had to avoid frightening the dog to ensure it was brought down to the ground safely during the rescue.

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

That is more frightening than stupidity, which can at least be kept out of the meeting.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

In some ways, these convicts were the most frightening to contemplate, for they demonstrated that badness could take hold of anyone.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann