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frightened

frightened

3 1.0
Being afraid because something seems dangerous
  • adjective
  • /ˈfraɪtənd/
translation icon : asustado
  • She was frightened when she saw the dark shadow move across the room.
  • I'M frightened

She never once complained, she never once got frightened, she never cried.

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Examples

  • I believe that on one of your chores you got so frightened by ghost stories you couldn't sleep.

  • Glitz, Ladies and gentlemen, to those among you are easily frightened, we suggest you turn away now.

  • When I would hear Spanish, I would just get frightened, right?

  • And and this dog got frightened and hid under the bed.

  • I'd never in my life felt frightened and I felt very frightened.

  • I was frightened, you know, it was more of a creepy uncle.

  • Chuck and Rhett are frightened of Link every time he takes his glasses off.

  • The problem is that they are frightened, they're isolated, they're being threatened.

  • She's she's truly frightened and she just doesn't know what she's seeing and what's going on.

  • I'M SITTING IN A ROOM FULL OF VERY HELPLESS, VERY FRIGHTENED PEOPLE.

Synonyms

afraid
vsfrightened
1.0

Feeling fear or worry about something

expresses the same basic fear or alarm generally
scared
vsfrightened
1.0

Feeling afraid because you think something bad might happen

is the general feeling of fear or alarm
scared of
vsfrightened
348 1.0

Feeling afraid of things like the dark or loud noises and wanting to avoid them

is fear or alarm without naming a particular target
terrified
vsfrightened
263 2.1

Feeling very afraid because you think something bad will happen

is less intense and describes normal fear or alarm
anxious
vsfrightened
201 2.7

Feeling worried or nervous about something that might happen

is fear or alarm tied more directly to threat
fearful
vsfrightened
143 1.3

Feeling afraid or nervous and easily frightened

covers general fear without implying high sensitivity
scared to death
vsfrightened
  • Informal
84 3.2

So frightened that you cannot move or speak

means afraid but without extreme intensity
apprehensive
vsfrightened
36 5.0

Feeling worried that something bad will happen

is fear focused on present alarm or immediate danger
petrified
vsfrightened
29 4.6

So frightened that you cannot move or think clearly

is fearful but without being immobilized by fear
panicky
vsfrightened
22 4.1

Feeling sudden, strong fear that makes you act without thinking

is fear without the strong loss of control or panic
scared shitless
vsfrightened
  • Offensive
19 9.9

Feeling very afraid because you think something bad will happen

is the neutral term for fear without coarse emphasis
panicked
vsfrightened
16 4.6

Feeling sudden, strong fear that makes it hard to think or act calmly

is fearful but may allow more calm or control
alarmed
vsfrightened
10 2.2

Suddenly afraid or worried because you think something bad might happen

is the broader state of fear or general worry
panic-stricken
vsfrightened
4 6.3

Suddenly very afraid and acting without thinking

is fear that need not cause frantic or irrational acts
horror-stricken
vsfrightened
1 7.2

Feeling very shocked and afraid after seeing something frightening

is fearful generally without the shocked element
terror-stricken
vsfrightened
1 7.7

Suddenly feeling very frightened

can be used for fear that is not necessarily sudden
panic-struck
vsfrightened
7.5

Suddenly very afraid and unable to think clearly

describes fear without the abrupt overwhelmed reaction
intimidated
vsfrightened
3.7

Feeling afraid and not confident because someone seems scary

is general fear not specifically caused by another person

Antonyms

735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

29 1.6

Not feeling fear or worry when facing danger

How Afraid

petrified
29 4.6
terrified
263 2.1
frightened
3 1.0
afraid
1.0
uneasy
98 3.2

Surface Forms

frightened positive

Morphology

frightened = frighten (transparent) = fright + en + ed

The participial adjective 'frightened' is transparently derived from the verb 'frighten' by adding -ed to indicate a state of having been made afraid.

Etymology

Frightened comes from fright ('sudden fear') plus the ending -en ('to make'), so it first meant 'made afraid'. That's why frightened now means 'feeling or showing fear'.