adjective

frightened

Feeling afraid.

The frightened child holds her mother's hand during the storm.

Etymology

Frighten means to cause fright, and the participial ending marks the person affected. Frightened describes the resulting state of being afraid.

More examples

  • I'm frightened of snakes, even when they're behind glass.
  • He looks frightened when the dog starts barking.
  • She is too frightened to open the door.

Forms

frightened · more frightened · most frightened

frighten verb — To cause someone to feel afraid.

fright noun — A sudden feeling of strong fear.

Similar words

afraid
Usually follows a verb rather than coming before a noun.
scared
A more informal alternative with the same basic meaning.
terrified
Describes much stronger fear, often with overwhelming panic.