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.
Definition 2024
frightful
frightful
English
Alternative forms
- frightfull (archaic)
Adjective
frightful (comparative more frightful, superlative most frightful)
- (obsolete) Full of fright, whether
- Afraid, frightened.
- Timid, fearful, easily frightened.
- 1613, William Browne, Britannia's Pastorals:
- See how the frightful herds run from the wood.
-
- Full of something causing fright, whether
- Genuinely horrific, awful, or alarming.
- (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.
- Francis Urquhart: What a frightful little man. Where do they find them these days?
-
1990, House of Cards, Season 1, Episode 1:
Synonyms
- See Wikisaurus:frightening
- See Wikisaurus:bad
Derived terms
Translations
full of fright
full of that which causes fright
References
- Webster's, "frightful", 1913.
- Oxford English Dictionary, "frightful, adj.", 1898.