frightful
Frightful (adj) means causing shock, horror, or fear; dreadful. Example: “They witnessed a frightful accident on the motorway.”
How to use frightful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDreadful or shocking, or (in casual British English) simply "terrible/very great".
The intensifying sense ("a frightful mess") is dated and mostly British; younger speakers rarely use it this way.
Word forms
more frightful comparative, more frightful comparative, most frightful superlative, most frightful superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They witnessed a _____ accident on the motorway.
Etymology
Built from "fright" plus "-ful" ("full of"), so literally "full of fright" — though today it more often just means "very bad".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for frightful
See all rhymes for frightful →Frequently asked questions
What does “frightful” mean?
The word “frightful” means causing shock, horror, or fear; dreadful. In plain terms, dreadful or shocking, or (in casual British English) simply "terrible/very great".
How do you pronounce “frightful”?
“Frightful” is pronounced FRYT-fuhl (/ˈfɹaɪtfəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “frightful” in a sentence?
Here is “frightful” used in a sentence: “They witnessed a frightful accident on the motorway.”
What is another word for “frightful”?
Words with a similar meaning to “frightful” include frightening and bad.
What part of speech is “frightful”?
“Frightful” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “frightful” have?
“Frightful” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: causing shock, horror, or fear; dreadful.