Words / A2

FRYTN-ing/ˈfraɪtnɪŋ/

Frightening means it makes you afraid: a frightening noise, a frightening storm, it looks frightening. Frightened is how a person feels. Scary is a more informal cousin. Horrible is “very bad”, not always about fear. Do not say “I am frightening” unless you mean you scare other people.

Meaning

Making you feel afraid.

Examples

• “The storm at sea was frightening.”
• “The hospital waiting room was quiet and a little frightening at night.”
• “A frightening headline made her ring home.”

Good to know

a frightening film/noise. Person’s feeling: frightened. Informal: scary.

Near in meaning

scary

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