1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a frightful sound emanated from somewhere deep within the forest
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent
I couldn't listen to the frightful details of the murder trial
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3
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
flew into a frightful fit of rage
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of frightful
Here's why dogs and cats may not mix well with frightful Halloween yard decorations.
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Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2024
As noted, there are limitations right now with how much generative AI can be your faithful but not frightful advisor on these matters.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Six Flags will be transformed this spooky season with a frightful array of haunted attractions, scare zones, entertainment shows and Halloween themed rides.
—Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2024
But even in states with tighter regulations, cases of frightful mix-ups and mismanagement crop up, traumatizing already-grieving families and sparking public outrage.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 29 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for frightful 
Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2024
As noted, there are limitations right now with how much generative AI can be your faithful but not frightful advisor on these matters.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Six Flags will be transformed this spooky season with a frightful array of haunted attractions, scare zones, entertainment shows and Halloween themed rides.
—Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2024
But even in states with tighter regulations, cases of frightful mix-ups and mismanagement crop up, traumatizing already-grieving families and sparking public outrage.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 29 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for frightful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frightful
Adjective
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Learn more › While the roar of the mighty Tyrannosaurs rex in the Jurassic Park film franchise is pretty terrifying, it was actually created by Hollywood special effects wizards using the sounds of a baby elephant.Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024
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In this show, the most terrifying threat is not any singular person or group, but rather, the monsters inside us.Andrés Buenahora, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
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But the indictment returned by a Georgia grand jury in May detailed a gruesome confrontation in which Ibarra allegedly asphyxiated the student, hit her over the head with a rock to the point of disfiguring her skull, and pulled up her clothing, intending to rape her.Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2024
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The film, set for theatrical release in the second or third quarter of 2025, centers on 13-year-old Achraf, who is forced into a gruesome and unimaginable act after his cousin Nizar is murdered by a group of men.Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024
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The vote came amid a moment of intense political debate about inflation.Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
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People with conditions like diabetes may take taurine supplements daily for extended periods, while one-time doses of taurine may be helpful before an intense workout or athletic competition.Jillian Kubala, RD, Health, 5 Nov. 2024
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While Malloy's candidacy represents a clear challenge to Sanders' decades-long dominance in Vermont politics, the senator's enduring popularity and political influence remain formidable.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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Jones, who died on Sunday night at 91 in Los Angeles, had already been a formidable impresario in music and TV for decades before pairing up with Jackson, a former child prodigy struggling with his pivot into adulthood.Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
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Iran possessing nukes represents an existential threat to Israel’s security in a way that terror groups—despite their horrific actions—simply never did.Carrie A. Lee, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2024
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But when Harvey goes missing, Batman is forced to descend into the city’s labyrinthian underground, uncovering a horrific conspiracy by a secret society that has ruled Gotham for ages, one that has ties to his parents’ tragic murder.Todd Spangler, Variety, 19 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Amelia needed cooling and intensive medical care for the next 72 hours, but the Grosse Pointe hospital where she was born doesn't have a neonatal intensive care unit.Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2024
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Research shows that intensive animal agriculture has been implicated in influenza viruses jumping from animals to people, and some believe this bird flu could even become the source of our next pandemic.Seema Policepatil, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
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For example, people often dodge screenings and diagnostic tests to avoid the frightening possibility of discovering cancer.Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
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Demi Moore is sharing scary photos of a frightening side of her character in the body horror movie The Substance.Tim Lammers, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
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Meanwhile Kelly Oubre, who was terrible with the Warriors, has found success with Philadelphia.Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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Elsbeth and Kaya are suspicious of Roselyn, even after Valentina’s quick assessment — supported by the medical examiner — that Claude’s death was a terrible accident.Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near frightful
Cite this Entry
“Frightful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frightful. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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