Skip to main content
frightfulness

frightfulness

1 8.1
A strong feeling of fear when something is very scary
  • noun
  • /ˈfraɪtfəlnəs/
translation icon : espantosidad
  • Instead, it is their combination and the elaboration of the design pattern that communicates the "frightfulness" of a pot.

Examples

  • An appalling by-product of Nazi frightfulness.

  • Desperate, unable to move, faced with the frightfulness and tedium of Saturday afternoon, he called his friend Lester, the ex-doctor.

    Academic text (2010)
  • These are the noblest words ever spoken by an American president—words equal to the justice of the cause, the frightfulness of the sacrifice, and the hope of concord.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The frightfulness of the horror movie kept me awake all night.

  • The frightfulness of the storm made everyone stay indoors.

  • Witnessing the frightfulness of the accident left a lasting impact on all who saw it.

Synonyms

scariness
vsfrightfulness
1 4.1

A feeling of fear caused by something you see or hear

is stronger, causes great fear or horror
eeriness
vsfrightfulness
1 7.2

A strange, quiet feeling that makes you feel afraid or uneasy

is stronger, provoking active fear or horror instead of unease
horribleness
vsfrightfulness
1 5.9

A very unpleasant, shocking state that causes fear or disgust

is broader, covering any strong fear or frightening state
fearsomeness
vsfrightfulness
1 6.9

A quality that makes people feel scared

leans more toward extreme fear and full horror
ghastliness
vsfrightfulness
1 8.5

A very shocking and horrible sight that scares people

is less about gruesome detail and more about raw fear
spookiness
vsfrightfulness
1 5.3

A strange, eerie feeling that makes you feel uneasy

is more intense, producing strong fear or outright horror
threateningness
vsfrightfulness
8.1

A feeling that something might cause harm or danger

focuses more on causing intense fear and horror
dreadfulness
vsfrightfulness
7.7

A very strong feeling of fear when something is shocking or awful

stresses horror and terrifying effect more than mere unpleasantness
horridness
vsfrightfulness
7.7

A very unpleasant quality that shocks people

puts more weight on causing deep fear or horror
ghoulishness
vsfrightfulness
8.8

A strange, scary quality like a ghost or monster

is about causing clear fear or horror rather than grotesque fascination

Antonyms

190 1.0

A feeling of physical ease and being free from pain

2 3.4

A feeling that something is nice and enjoyable

How Scary

horror
441 2.1
frightfulness
1 8.1
fear
1.0
alarm
159 2.3
unease
19 4.4

Surface Forms

frightfulness singular

Morphology

frightfulness = frightful (transparent) = fright + ful + ness

Formed by a standard noun derivation from the adjective 'frightful' using the productive suffix '-ness', so the meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

The word frightfulness comes from the simple word fright meaning 'sudden fear' plus the endings -ful ('full of') and -ness ('state'), so it names the state of being very frightening; think of the same root in frighten to remember it causes strong fear.