frightened
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fright·en
(frīt′n)v. fright·ened, fright·en·ing, fright·ens
v.tr.
1. To fill with fear; alarm.
2. To drive or force by arousing fear: The suspect was frightened into confessing.
v.intr.
To become afraid: told ghost stories to campers who frightened easily.
fright′en·er n.
fright′en·ing·ly adv.
Synonyms: frighten, scare, alarm, terrify, terrorize, startle, panic
These verbs mean to cause a person to experience fear. Frighten and the more informal scare are the most widely applicable: "The Count's mysterious warning frightened me at the time" (Bram Stoker).We scared each other telling ghost stories before bed.
Alarm implies a state of fearful anxiety, often brought on suddenly: The sight of the approaching shark alarmed the swimmers.
Terrify implies overwhelming, often paralyzing fear: "It is the coming of death that terrifies me" (Oscar Wilde).
To terrorize is to strike fear into another, often for purposes of coercion: "The decent citizen was terrorized into paying public blackmail" (Arthur Conan Doyle).
Startle suggests a momentary fright that may cause a sudden, involuntary movement of the body: The clap of thunder startled us.
Panic implies sudden frantic fear that often impairs self-control and rationality: The realistic radio drama panicked the listeners who tuned in after it had begun.
These verbs mean to cause a person to experience fear. Frighten and the more informal scare are the most widely applicable: "The Count's mysterious warning frightened me at the time" (Bram Stoker).We scared each other telling ghost stories before bed.
Alarm implies a state of fearful anxiety, often brought on suddenly: The sight of the approaching shark alarmed the swimmers.
Terrify implies overwhelming, often paralyzing fear: "It is the coming of death that terrifies me" (Oscar Wilde).
To terrorize is to strike fear into another, often for purposes of coercion: "The decent citizen was terrorized into paying public blackmail" (Arthur Conan Doyle).
Startle suggests a momentary fright that may cause a sudden, involuntary movement of the body: The clap of thunder startled us.
Panic implies sudden frantic fear that often impairs self-control and rationality: The realistic radio drama panicked the listeners who tuned in after it had begun.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
afraid
– frightened1. 'afraid' and 'frightened'
If you are afraid or frightened, you feel fear because you think something bad will happen.
The children were so afraid that they ran away.
She felt frightened.
You can also say that you are afraid of someone or something, or frightened of them.
Tom is afraid of the dark.
They are frightened of their father.
If you don't want to do something because you think it might be harmful or dangerous, you can say that you are afraid to do it or frightened to do it.
Many crime victims are afraid to go to the police.
She was frightened to go out on her own.
Be Careful!
Afraid is used only after linking verbs such as be and feel. Don't use it in front of a noun. For example, don't talk about 'an afraid child'. However, you can talk about 'a frightened child'.
He was acting like a frightened kid.
2. another meaning of 'afraid'
If you are worried about something, you can say that you are afraid of doing something wrong, or afraid that something will happen. You don't usually use 'frightened' in this way.
She was afraid that I might be embarrassed.
She was afraid of being late for school.
3. 'I'm afraid...'
If you have to tell someone something and you think it might upset or annoy them, you can politely say 'I'm afraid...', 'I'm afraid so', or 'I'm afraid not'. 'I'm afraid so' means 'yes'. 'I'm afraid not' means 'no', and both of these expressions are used as responses to questions.
'I'm afraid Sue isn't at her desk at the moment. Can I take a message?'
'I hear she's leaving. Is that right?' – 'I'm afraid so.'
'Can you come round this evening?' – 'I'm afraid not.'
frighten
– frightened1. 'frighten'
If something frightens you, it makes you feel afraid.
Rats and mice don't frighten me.
Frighten is almost always a transitive verb. Don't say that someone 'frightens'. If you want to say that someone is afraid because of something that has happened or that might happen, you say that they are frightened.
Miriam was too frightened to tell her family what had happened.
He told the children not to be frightened.
For more information, see afraid - frightened
2. 'frightening'
Don't confuse frightened with frightening. Something that is frightening causes you to feel fear.
It was a very frightening experience.
It is frightening to think what damage could be done.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Adj. | 1. | frightened - made afraid; "the frightened child cowered in the corner"; "too shocked and scared to move" afraid - filled with fear or apprehension; "afraid even to turn his head"; "suddenly looked afraid"; "afraid for his life"; "afraid of snakes"; "afraid to ask questions" |
| 2. | frightened - thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation; "became panicky as the snow deepened"; "felt panicked before each exam"; "trying to keep back the panic-stricken crowd"; "the terrified horse bolted" afraid - filled with fear or apprehension; "afraid even to turn his head"; "suddenly looked afraid"; "afraid for his life"; "afraid of snakes"; "afraid to ask questions" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
frightened
adjective afraid, alarmed, scared, terrified, shocked, frozen, cowed, startled, dismayed, unnerved, petrified, flustered, panicky, terrorized, in a panic, scared stiff, in a cold sweat, abashed, scared shitless (taboo slang), terror-stricken, shit-scared (taboo slang), affrighted (archaic), in fear and trepidation, numb with fear She was too frightened to tell them what happened.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
مذْعور، مَرْعوبمَرْعُوب
vystrašenýpolekaný
bangeforskrækketskræmt
pelästynyt
prestrašen
hræddur
おびえた
겁먹은
vystrašený
prestrašen
skrämd
รู้สึกตกใจ
sợ hãi
frightened
[ˈfraɪtənd] adj (= fearful) [children, eyes] → effrayé(e)
(= afraid) to be frightened → avoir peur
I'm frightened! → J'ai peur!
to be frightened of sth → avoir peur de qch
Anna's frightened of spiders → Anna a peur des araignées.
to be frightened to do sth → avoir peur de faire qch
to be frightened sth will happen → avoir peur que qch arrive
to be frightened of doing sth (= fear one will) → avoir peur de faire qch
I was frightened of making a fool of myself → J'avais peur de me ridiculiser.
I'm frightened! → J'ai peur!
to be frightened of sth → avoir peur de qch
Anna's frightened of spiders → Anna a peur des araignées.
to be frightened to do sth → avoir peur de faire qch
to be frightened sth will happen → avoir peur que qch arrive
to be frightened of doing sth (= fear one will) → avoir peur de faire qch
I was frightened of making a fool of myself → J'avais peur de me ridiculiser.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
frightened
adj person, animal → ängstlich, verängstigt; voice, eyes, look → ängstlich, angsterfüllt; to be frightened (of somebody/something) → (vor jdm/etw) Angst haben; are you frightened of the dark? → hast du Angst vor der Dunkelheit?; don’t be frightened → hab keine Angst; they were frightened (that) there would be another earthquake → sie hatten Angst (davor), dass es noch ein Erdbeben geben könnte; to be frightened to do something → Angst (davor) haben, etw zu tun; I was too frightened to look → ich hatte zu viel Angst or war zu verängstigt, um hinzusehen; to be frightened about or of doing something → Angst davor haben, etw zu tun; to be frightened to death or out of one’s wits → zu Tode erschrocken sein; to be frightened to death that… → Todesängste ausstehen, dass …; to be frightened to death of somebody/something → eine Todesangst vor jdm/etw haben; like a frightened rabbit → wie ein verängstigtes Kaninchen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
fright
(frait) noun1. a sudden fear. the noise gave me a terrible fright.
2. a person who looks ridiculous. She looks a fright in those clothes.
stage frightstageˈfrighten verb to make (someone) afraid. She was frightened by a large dog.
ˈfrightened adjectiveˈfrightful adjective
1. terrible or frightening. I had a frightful experience.
2. very bad. He is a frightful liar.
ˈfrightening adjectiveˈfrightfully adverb
very. He's frightfully clever.
take fright to become frightened usually suddenly and quickly. She took fright and ran away.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
frightened
→ مَرْعُوب vystrašený skræmt verängstigt τρομαγμένος asustado pelästynyt effrayé prestrašen impaurito おびえた 겁먹은 bang skremt przestraszony assustado напуганный skrämd รู้สึกตกใจ korkmuş sợ hãi 受惊的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
frightened
a. asustado-a, atemorizado-a.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012