frighten
19 synonyms and 4 antonyms for frighten, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To make someone feel afraid or alarmed; to scare.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use frighten
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
frighten someone
easily frightened
frighten away
Etymology
From the older English word "fright" (fear) plus the verb-forming ending "-en", the same pattern seen in "sadden" or "harden".
Full origin of frighten →Frequently asked questions
What does “frighten” mean?
The word “frighten” means to make someone feel afraid or alarmed; to scare. In plain terms, to scare someone, or to become scared.
How do you pronounce “frighten”?
“Frighten” is pronounced FREYE-tuhn (/ˈfɹaɪ.tən/ in IPA).
How do you use “frighten” in a sentence?
Here is “frighten” used in a sentence: “The loud thunder frightened the dog.”
What is another word for “frighten”?
Words with a similar meaning to “frighten” include alarm, affright, appall, dismay, fray and grill.
What part of speech is “frighten”?
“Frighten” is a verb.
Is “frighten” a common word?
“Frighten” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “frighten” have?
“Frighten” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make someone feel afraid or alarmed; to scare.
