frightful

UK: /ˈfraɪtfʊl/ US: /ˈfraɪtfəl/ ,(frīt′fəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fright•ful /ˈfraɪtfəl/   adj. 

1. causing fright:
   a frightful explosion.
2. horrible or shocking:
   The storm did frightful damage.
3. Informal Terms unpleasant:
   We had a frightful time.
4. Informal Terms very great;
   extreme:
   That actor is a frightful ham.

fright•ful•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fright•ful  (frīt′fəl), adj. 

1. such as to cause fright;
   dreadful, terrible, or alarming:
   A frightful howl woke us.
2. horrible, shocking, or revolting:
   The storm did frightful damage.
3. Informal Terms unpleasant;
   disagreeable:
   We had a frightful time.
4. Informal Terms very great;
   extreme:
   That actor is very talented but a frightful ham.

• 1200–50; Middle English; see fright, -ful

fright′ful•ly, adv. 
fright′ful•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. . fearful, awful.
• 2. . hideous, dread, horrid, ghastly; gruesome.

Antonyms

• 1, 2. . delightful.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

frightful / ˈfraɪtfʊl/ adjective

1. very alarming, distressing, or horrifying
2. unpleasant, annoying, or extreme: a frightful hurry

ˈfrightfulness noun