verb
definition
To cause to feel fear; to scare; to cause to feel alarm or fright.
example
Avery puts a sheet over her head, pretending to be a ghost to frighten Emily.
adjective
definition
Causing fear; of capable of causing fear; scary.
example
Riding the rollercoaster was a frightening experience.
definition
Awful, terrible, very bad.
Examples of frightening in a Sentence
All this talk about bears was frightening her.
I don't care how frightening it will be, I want to go ahead.
Something is frightening you.
Apparently he found the idea of jail less frightening than the huge dog.
You'd see less wildlife if you were walking - making more frightening noises to the animals.
Riding back down the trail was even more frightening than coming up.
He stayed with them and was shocked when the car left the road, bumping into a secluded copse, frightening the girl.
It was simultaneously frightening and annoying.
He had every right to be upset with her, but this emotional explosion was as frightening as it was uncharacteristic.
For a moment the idea of totally losing her identity was a frightening reality.
The idea of teasing him with her body was a little frightening, but if that was what it took...
It must be frightening for her, not knowing what was happening.
They decided against it, cautious about frightening off Byrne if he should get wind of the search and realize someone was this close to finding him.
They stumbled from the mine, hugging one another in the sunshine, thankful that the frightening ordeal was over.
The demon does not care for him, either, and tells me stories too frightening to be true.
The mummers (some of the house serfs) dressed up as bears, Turks, innkeepers, and ladies--frightening and funny--bringing in with them the cold from outside and a feeling of gaiety, crowded, at first timidly, into the anteroom, then hiding behind one another they pushed into the ballroom where, shyly at first and then more and more merrily and heartily, they started singing, dancing, and playing Christmas games.
While I dreaded frightening my wife further, I knew I owed her the information on the motor home.
Will you cut out this shit and stop frightening this child to death?
But the gun is a little frightening, Dean said.
In 1672 Aungier transferred his headquarters to Bombay, and after frightening off an imposing Dutch fleet, which in 1670 attempted to surprise the island, set to work to organize the settlement anew.
This had the effect of frightening the propertied classes in the city, who had hitherto observed a timid neutrality, and turned public opinion against the insurgents.
The future is frightening if you dwell on it.
Nosebleeds can be frightening for children.
The answer had frightening implications with Fred O'Connor at home alone.
Children between two and five years of age will often be restless, have sleep disturbances, or frightening dreams.
Breath holding spells can be extremely frightening for parents, siblings, and caregivers.
Nightmare disorder is a parasomnia in which the child is repeatedly awakened from sleep by frightening dreams and is fully alert on awakening.
Violent scenes or frightening science fiction stories appear to influence the frequency and intensity of children's nightmares.
Illness with high fever may bring about delirium with frightening episodes of nighttime awakening.
It can be especially frightening for people who were trained in strict dance techniques but never asked to choreograph for either themselves or other people.
It should have been an exciting moment, but frightening would have better described the sudden pounding of her heart.
He was also blind with opaque, milky white eyes adding to his frightening look.
They may even remember what was frightening them and that they could not seem to wake up.
They may remember vague images of frightening animals such as spiders or snakes or people who were trying to hurt them.
Sudden muscle movements during sleep or while falling asleep may be frightening simply because they are involuntary and uncontrollable.
What scientists do not understand is why some people who experience a frightening or stressful event develop a phobia and others do not.
Sleep paralysis, a frightening inability to move shortly after awakening or dozing off.
In addition, sleep attacks and cataplexy can be frightening to other family members who witness them.
The pallid form of BHS typically follows a frightening or painful experience.
Their greater awareness of the divorce situation, however, may lead to elaborate and frightening fantasies of abandonment or of being replaced in the affections of the noncustodial parent.
Child can describe the frightening dream in detail.
The dragon is not only mystical, but frightening and powerful as well.
While some might wonder why you like horror movies, you'll always know that part of the fun is proving you can make it through a film this frightening!
He always believed there to be nothing more frightening than being sealed underground, until he saw the small woman battling for her life.
Her face became so radiant that some present said her beauty was almost frightening.
In all cases, the sleeper has very frightening dream episodes which, in turn, cause the sleeper to experience extreme physical effects for anywhere from five to thirty minutes.
One of the most memorable (and downright frightening) moments in the game is when you're trekking across the city rooftops.
To the uninitiated this spells danger, doom and other frightening Old Testament words.
One cognitive-behavioral therapy is desensitization (also known as exposure therapy), in which people are gradually exposed to the frightening object or event until they become used to it and their physical symptoms decrease.
Clearly the notion of a child having permanent facial paralysis can be quite frightening for parents as well as the child suffering from Bell's palsy.