frightful — Extremely unpleasant, shocking, or causing fear and alarm. Something so bad or disturbing that it creates feelings of horror or dread.
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: Extremely unpleasant, shocking, or causing fear and alarm. Something so bad or disturbing that it creates feelings of horror or dread.
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈfraɪtfəl/
Example Sentences
- My hair looks frightful after sleeping for 12 hours straight.
- The traffic was frightful, so I was three hours late for the date.
- She made a frightful discovery in her roommate's closet.
frightful
ADJECTIVE[/ˈfraɪtfəl/]
Extremely unpleasant, shocking, or causing fear and alarm. Something so bad or disturbing that it creates feelings of horror or dread.
Extremely unpleasant, shocking, or causing fear and alarm. Something so bad or disturbing that it creates feelings of horror or dread.
What was delightful turns frightful, making faces spiteful!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'frightful' (14th century), combining 'fright' (meaning terror or sudden fear) with the suffix '-ful'. Originally meant 'causing fear' but later developed the meaning of 'extremely bad' as an intensifier.
Breakdown
fright (terror, sudden fear) + -ful (full of, characterized by)
🎵Rhyme
📝Examples
“My hair looks frightful after sleeping for 12 hours straight.”
“The traffic was frightful, so I was three hours late for the date.”
“She made a frightful discovery in her roommate's closet.”
“The restaurant served a frightful meal that nobody could finish.”
📚Related Words
Antonyms
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