WordGarden.iofrightful
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /frˈaɪtfəl/
US
- /ˈfraɪtfəl/
Meanings
Adjective
causing fear or alarm
very bad, unpleasant, or shocking
Beyond the definition
Something frightful makes you feel strong fear or alarm. It can describe something dangerous or scary, like a frightful storm, a frightful scream, or a frightful scene in a story. It is also often used for something that is simply very bad or unpleasant, such as frightful weather, a frightful mess, or a frightful day. In both uses, the word carries a strong sense that something is hard to face or hard to enjoy.
The word "frightful" describes something that causes great fear, shock, or distress. It is stronger than a mild scare and often suggests that something feels seriously threatening, deeply unpleasant, or hard to look at. A frightful accident, a frightful noise, or a frightful discovery can leave a person shaken because the word carries a sense of strong emotional impact.
Beyond physical danger, "frightful" can also describe things that are emotionally upsetting or disturbing. A frightful memory may stay with someone for years, and a frightful thought may fill a scene with tension. The word often appears in stories with dark or dramatic moods, where it helps create a feeling of fear and unease.
The word also has a common second use: it can simply mean "very bad" or "very unpleasant." Someone may complain about frightful weather, a frightful meal, frightful manners, or a frightful mess. In these cases, the idea is not literal fear but strong dislike or disapproval. Because of that, "frightful" can move between two nearby meanings: something that truly scares you, and something that feels awful in a strong way.
Examples
- 1
Sudden noise
There was a frightful crash, and then the lights went out.
- 2
Storm damage
The village looked frightful after the storm.
- 3
Bad realization
He had the frightful realization that he had lost his passport.
- 4
Hotel food
The food at the hotel was frightful.
- Usage
frightful can also mean very bad, especially in British English
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Household mess
We made a frightful mess in the kitchen trying to bake a cake.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- a frightful mess
- frightful weather
- a frightful accident
- frightful noise
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- frightfuladjective