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frightened
/ˈfraɪtənd/
very scared or afraid
The child was frightened by the loud thunder.
The child was very scared by the loud thunder.
informal
feeling extreme fear or anxiety
She looked frightened when she heard the noise outside.
She appeared very scared when she heard the noise outside.
The dog was frightened by the fireworks.
The dog was terrified by the fireworks.
Often used to describe a strong emotional reaction to a perceived threat or danger.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
Use 'frightened' to describe a strong emotional reaction to fear, often in informal contexts.
Gold Rule
Synonyms and Antonyms
Remember that 'frightened' is similar to 'scared' and 'terrified' but can be stronger in some contexts.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'fraytened', past participle of 'frayten' (to frighten), from Old English 'fǣhtan' (to terrify), related to 'fear'.
Usage Notes
Can be used to describe both physical and emotional reactions to fear. Often used in informal contexts to express strong fear.
Word Breakdown
frighten
to cause fear
root-ed
past participle suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary