Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Frightful

Fright′ful

,
Adj.
1.
Full of fright; affrighted; frightened.
[Obs.]
See how the
frightful
herds run from the wood.
W. Browne.
Syn. – Terrible; dreadful; alarming; fearful; terrific; awful; horrid; horrible; shocking.
Frightful
,
Dreadful
,
Awful
. These words all express fear. In frightful, it is a sudden emotion; in dreadful, it is deeper and more prolonged; in awful, the fear is mingled with the emotion of awe, which subdues us before the presence of some invisible power. An accident may be frightful; the approach of death is dreadful to most men; the convulsions of the earthquake are awful.

Webster 1828 Edition


Frightful

FRIGHTFUL

,
Adj.
Terrible; dreadful; exciting alarm; impressing terror; as a frightful chasm or precipice; a frightful tempest.

Definition 2024


frightful

frightful

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

frightful (comparative more frightful, superlative most frightful)

  1. (obsolete) Full of fright, whether
    1. Afraid, frightened.
      • c. 1250, Genesis and Exodus, line 3459:
        Ðis frigtful ðus a-biden,
        Quiles ðis daiȝes for ben gliden.
    2. Timid, fearful, easily frightened.
      • 1613, William Browne, Britannia's Pastorals:
        See how the frightful herds run from the wood.
  2. Full of something causing fright, whether
    1. Genuinely horrific, awful, or alarming.
    2. (hyperbolic) Unpleasant, dreadful, awful (also used as an intensifier).
      • 1990, House of Cards, Season 1, Episode 1:
        Francis Urquhart: What a frightful little man. Where do they find them these days?
        Tim Stamper: God knows. If I had a dog like that, I'd shoot it.
        Francis Urquhart: Well, yes. Quite.

Synonyms

  • See Wikisaurus:frightening
  • See Wikisaurus:bad

Derived terms

Translations

References

  • Webster's, "frightful", 1913.
  • Oxford English Dictionary, "frightful, adj.", 1898.