What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Frightening vs Afraid - What's the difference?

frightening | afraid |

As adjectives the difference between frightening and afraid

is that frightening is causing fear; of capable of causing fear; scary while afraid is impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear.

As a verb frightening

is .

frightening

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Causing fear; of capable of causing fear; scary.
    • The frightening scientist lived in an old shack.
  • (figuratively) Awful, terrible, very bad.

    • Synonyms

    *

    Verb

    (head)
    • The scientist was frightening the timid children.

    afraid

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear.
    • He is afraid of death.
    He is afraid to die.
    He is afraid that he will die.
  • (colloquial) regretful, sorry
    • I am afraid I can not help you in this matter .

    Usage notes

    * (term) expresses a lesser degree of fear than (terrified) or (frightened). It is often followed by the preposition (term) and the object of fear, or by an infinitive, or by a dependent clause, as shown in the examples above.

    Synonyms

    * (Impressed with fear or apprehension) afeared, alarmed, anxious, apprehensive, fearful, timid, timorous * (Regretful) sorry * See also

    Derived terms

    * 'fraid * afraidness * I'm afraid not * I'm afraid so * unafraid

    See also

    * fear

    Statistics

    * 1000 English basic words ----