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Frightful vs Frighten - What's the difference?

frightful | frighten |

As an adjective frightful

is (obsolete): full of fright; affrighted; frightened.

As a verb frighten is

to disturb with fear; to throw into a state of alarm or fright; to affright; to terrify.

frightful

English

(Webster 1913)

Alternative forms

* frightfull (archaic)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (obsolete): Full of fright; affrighted; frightened.
  • *
  • Full of that which causes fright; exciting alarm; impressing terror; shocking; as, a frightful chasm, or tempest; a frightful appearance.
  • (Used as an intensifier)
    • We wasted a frightful amount of money on renovations.

    Synonyms

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

    frighten

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To disturb with fear; to throw into a state of alarm or fright; to affright; to terrify.

    • Synonyms

    * See also