Word Study
frighten
CIDE DICTIONARY
To disturb with fear; to throw into a state of alarm or fright; to affright; to terrify. [1913 Webster]
"More frightened than hurt." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
frighten, v.tr.
1 fill with fright; terrify (was frightened at the bang; is frightened of dogs).
2 (foll. by away, off, out of, into) drive or force by fright (frightened it out of the room; frightened them into submission; frightened me into agreeing).
1 fill with fright; terrify (was frightened at the bang; is frightened of dogs).
2 (foll. by away, off, out of, into) drive or force by fright (frightened it out of the room; frightened them into submission; frightened me into agreeing).
Derivative
frightening adj. frighteningly adv.
THESAURUS
frighten
affright, agitate, alarm, alert, appall, arouse, astound, awe, bowl down, bowl over, browbeat, bulldoze, cow, cry havoc, cry wolf, curdle the blood, daunt, demoralize, discompose, disconcert, dismay, disquiet, distress, electrify, faze, fly storm warnings, fright, funk, horrify, horripilate, intimidate, jar, jolt, make one tremble, panic, perturb, petrify, raise apprehensions, scare, scare stiff, shake, shock, sound the alarm, sound the tocsin, spook, stagger, startle, stun, take aback, terrify, terrorize, unman, unnerve, unstring, upset, warnROGET THESAURUS
frighten
Fear
VB fear, stand in awe of, be afraid, have qualms, apprehend, sit upon thorns, eye askance, distrust, hesitate, falter, funk, cower, crouch, skulk, let 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would' take fright, take alarm, start, wince, flinch, shy, shrink, fly, tremble, shake, shiver, shiver in one's shoes, shudder, flutter, shake like an aspen leaf, tremble like an aspen leaf, tremble all over, quake, quaver, quiver, quail, grow pale, turn pale, blench, stand aghast, not dare to say one's soul is one's own, inspire fear, excite fear, inspire awe, excite awe, raise apprehensions, be in a daze, bulldoze, faze, feeze, give an alarm, raise an alarm, sound an alarm, alarm, startle, scare, cry 'wolf', disquiet, dismay, fright, frighten, terrify, astound, fright from one's propriety, fright out of one's senses, fright out of one's wits, fright out of one's seven senses, awe, strike all of a heap, strike an awe into, strike terror, harrow up the soul, appall, unman, petrify, horrify, pile on the agony, make one's flesh creep, make one's hair stand on end, make one's blood run cold, make one's teeth chatter, take away one's breath, stop one's breath, make one tremble, haunt, prey on the mind, weigh on the mind, put in fear, put in bodily fear, terrorize, intimidate, cow, daunt, overawe, abash, deter, discourage, browbeat, bully, threaten.For further exploring for "frighten" in Webster Dictionary Online