English Dictionary
Definition of “frightful”
frightful (ˈfraɪtfʊl
)
Definitions
adjective
- very alarming, distressing, or horrifying
- unpleasant, annoying, or extreme ⇒
a frightful hurry
Alternative Forms
ˈfrightfulness noun
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
terrible,
shocking,
alarming,
awful,
appalling,
horrible,
grim,
terrifying,
dreadful,
dread,
fearful,
traumatic,
dire,
horrendous,
ghastly,
hideous,
harrowing,
gruesome,
unnerving,
lurid,
from hell,
grisly,
macabre,
petrifying,
horrid,
unspeakable,
godawful,
hellacious,
Usage examples
He had always thought Lise rather pretty, she looked frightful now.
Penelope Fitzgerald, HUMAN VOICES (2003)What the Voice of the People is saying is: "Look at that frightful ass Spode swanking about in footer bags!
Spiked (2003)Mike Weir's Masters dream remains alive this morning, but it took a frightful thrashing yesterday afternoon.
Ottawa Sun (2003)HOT OR ROT: A few inspired moments but generally a frightful mess.
Sun, News of the World (2001)Sergeant-Major Cotton recalled: `The field of battle, after the victory, presented a frightful and most distressing spectacle.
Andrew Roberts, Series edited by Lisa Jardine and Amanda Foreman, WATERLOO: Napoleon's Last Gamble (2005)
