FRIGHTENING: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for FRIGHTENING?

Need another word that means the same as “frightening”? Find 13 synonyms and 30 related words for “frightening” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Frightening” are: terrorisation, terrorization, awful, dire, direful, dread, dreaded, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, horrendous, horrific, terrible

Frightening as a Noun

Definitions of "Frightening" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “frightening” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• The act of inspiring with fear.

Synonyms of "Frightening" as a noun (2 Words)

terrorisation	The act of inspiring with fear.
terrorization	An act of terrorism.

Frightening as an Adjective

Definitions of "Frightening" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “frightening” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Causing fear or dread or terror.
• Making someone afraid or anxious; terrifying.

Synonyms of "Frightening" as an adjective (11 Words)

awful	Offensive or even (of persons) malicious. Awful worshippers with bowed heads.
dire	Of a very poor quality. Misuse of drugs can have dire consequences.
direful	Extremely bad; dreadful. A career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked.
dread	Greatly feared dreadful. Polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was.
dreaded	Regarded with great fear or apprehension. The dreaded news came that Joe had been wounded.
dreadful	Very unpleasant. She looked quite dreadful and she was struggling for breath.
fearful	Causing or likely to cause people to be afraid; horrifying. A fearful accident.
fearsome	Causing fear or dread or terror. The cat mewed displaying a fearsome set of teeth.
horrendous	Extremely unpleasant, horrifying, or terrible. She suffered horrendous injuries.
horrific	Causing fear or dread or terror. Horrific injuries.
terrible	Extremely bad or serious. Terrible handwriting.

Usage Examples of "Frightening" as an adjective

• A frightening experience.

Associations of "Frightening" (30 Words)

afraid	Filled with fear or apprehension. She was afraid that he would be angry.
alarming	Frightening because of an awareness of danger. Our countryside is disappearing at an alarming rate.
appall	Strike with disgust or revulsion.
chilling	The process of becoming cooler; a falling temperature. A chilling account of the prisoners fate.
claustrophobia	A morbid fear of being closed in a confined space. The small stuffy room had begun to give him claustrophobia.
dread	Dreadlocks. The thought of returning to London filled her with dread.
dreadful	Extremely disagreeable. A dreadful storm.
fear	The likelihood of something unwelcome happening. I fear she might get aggressive.
fearful	Lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted. Cast fearful glances at the large dog.
fearfulness	An emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight.
fearsome	Causing fear or dread or terror. The cat mewed displaying a fearsome set of teeth.
formidable	Inspiring fear. The challenge was formidable.
fright	Frighten. She s had a nasty fright.
frighten	Drive out by frightening. The savagery of his thoughts frightened him.
frightful	Extremely distressing. A frightful mistake.
gruesome	Shockingly repellent; inspiring horror. The most gruesome murder.
hideous	Extremely unpleasant. A hideous scar.
horrific	Causing fear or dread or terror. Horrific injuries.
horror	A literary or film genre concerned with arousing feelings of horror. The mere thought of it gives me the horrors.
macabre	Disturbing because concerned with or causing a fear of death. Macabre tortures conceived by madmen.
panic	Cause sudden fear in or fill with sudden panic. Panic in the stock market.
petrify	Cause to become stonelike or stiff or dazed and stunned from fright. Slogans petrify our thinking.
scare	Become scared. She has been given the all clear after a breast cancer scare.
scared	Fearful; frightened. I wasn t scared at all.
scary	Uncannily striking or surprising. It was scary the way they bonded with each other.
spooky	Easily frightened; nervous. I bet this place is really spooky late at night.
terrible	Very unwell or troubled. Despite passing my driving test first time I m a terrible driver.
terrify	Cause to feel extreme fear. He is terrified of spiders.
terrifying	Causing extreme terror. A terrifying wail.
terror	Terrorism. A terror suspect.