frightened

[frahyt-nd]

adjective

1. thrown into a fright; afraid; scared; terrified.

   a frightened child cowering in the corner.

2. afraid; fearful (usually followed byof ).

   He has always been frightened of heights.

Other Word Forms

• frightenedly adverb
• unfrightened adjective
• well-frightened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of frightened¹

First recorded in 1715–25; frighten + -ed ²

Synonym Study

See afraid.

Example Sentences

Thomas, the gentler of the two, draws most of Ray’s abuse, and it shapes him into a meek and easily frightened being.

From Salon

She was also a severe asthmatic, always followed by a "frightened minion carrying her asthma inhaler, as though it were a crown, or a sceptre of some sort".

From BBC

"A lot of people were crying around me. They were very frightened. I was trying to calm them down."

From BBC

People are so afraid that local restaurants have reported a plummet in reservations, as frightened folks stay at home rather than deal with bored and angry law enforcement.

From Salon

"There was no system for doing so and I was frightened it would make me look bad," he said, adding he felt homophobia in Parliament had declined during his 24 years as an MP.

From BBC

Related Words

• afraid 
• anxious 
• fearful 
• panicky www.thesaurus.com
• spooked www.thesaurus.com
• startled 
• unnerved www.thesaurus.com