Frightful

Pronunciation

Alternative forms

• frightfull archaic

Origin

From Middle English frightful ("afraid"), from Old English forhtful ("fainthearted, timorous"), equivalent to fright + -ful.

Full definition of frightful

Adjective

1. (obsolete): Full of fright; affrighted; frightened.
• 1613, w, Britannia's Pastorals, See how the frightful herds run from the wood.
2. Full of that which causes fright; exciting alarm; impressing terror; shocking; as, a frightful chasm, or tempest; a frightful appearance.
3. Used as an intensifierWe wasted a frightful amount of money on renovations.

Synonyms

• terrible
• dreadful
• alarming
• fearful
• terrific
• awful
• horrid
• horrible
• shocking