as in to scare
to strike with fear
around the campfire the campers tried to frighten one another with ghostly legends and grisly tales
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Recent Examples of frighten
On the streets, conservative protesters, frightened that the left could win the next election, have rallied to Yoon.
—
Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2025
That frightened stray kitten forgot her fears and moved up on that ball of paper and batted it across the floor and then batted it again.
—Carole Wendt, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Things come to a head after Belle fakes a seizure at her son’s birthday party, frightening him.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 6 Feb. 2025
Police say that the company set out on a ride with seven horses when the guide’s horse got frightened, causing the other horses to get scared, too.
—Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2025
That frightened stray kitten forgot her fears and moved up on that ball of paper and batted it across the floor and then batted it again.
—Carole Wendt, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Things come to a head after Belle fakes a seizure at her son’s birthday party, frightening him.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 6 Feb. 2025
Police say that the company set out on a ride with seven horses when the guide’s horse got frightened, causing the other horses to get scared, too.
—Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frighten
Verb
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Higher prices and looming economic uncertainty could scare off consumers, experts previously told ABC News.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
14 Mar. 2025
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Mozer yelled out of his apartment window, scaring Moseley off.—
Jessica Sager,
People.com,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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No matter what your views are on Israel & Palestine, we should all be terrified of a government incarcerating its residents for their political opinions.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
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Carolina Waterfowl Rescue has a history of rescuing snakes from predicaments in the region, including the venomous species that seem to terrify the public.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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There are frequent shots of monkeys around this season’s White Lotus, glaring on branches just out of reach, occasionally bounding down and startling the guests.—
Joe Joyce,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
14 Mar. 2025
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With her nerves already on edge, Blanche is further startled by the arrival of her brother-in-law Stanley, a brutish drunk who has bulldozed his way into Stella’s heart.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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While federal officials continue to remind Americans that air travel is as safe as it’s ever been, a series of recent catastrophes and incidents has spooked the flying public.—
Jay Blackman,
NBC News,
20 Mar. 2025
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The noise spooks the farm’s newest residents, sandhill cranes in the west pasture, who leap from their roosts and swoop low over the vast prairie.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frighten. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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