adj
frightful
FRYT-fuhl
Frightful (adj) means causing shock, horror, or fear; dreadful. Example: “They witnessed a frightful accident on the motorway.”
adj
1
Causing shock, horror, or fear; dreadful.
"They witnessed a frightful accident on the motorway."
2
Informally, very unpleasant or bad (often used to intensify, not literally about fear).
"What frightful weather we've been having this week!"
"He was in a frightful hurry to leave."
How to use frightful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDreadful or shocking, or (in casual British English) simply "terrible/very great".
When to use it
The intensifying sense ("a frightful mess") is dated and mostly British; younger speakers rarely use it this way.
Common pairings
a frightful mess
frightful noise
frightful weather
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like frightful.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more frightful
- Superlative
- most frightful
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
View more →Antonyms
Related words
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.
