espantosa

Espantosa is a Spanish adjective used to describe something that causes fear, shock, or strong revulsion. It is the feminine form of espantoso; the masculine form is espantoso, and the plural forms are espantosos (masculine) and espantosas (feminine). The word derives from the verb espantar, meaning to scare or frighten, and is employed to convey a high degree of negative impact.

In usage, espantosa conveys a powerful negative impression. It can describe people, events, objects, or situations that provoke fear, disgust, or considerable surprise. Examples include una película espantosa (a dreadful film), una historia espantosa (a terrifying tale), un gasto espantoso (an enormous expense), or un error espantoso (a blatant mistake). The term can be literal, as with una criatura espantosa (a frightening creature), or figurative, as in una verdad espantosa (a terrifying truth).

Notes on style and scope: espantosa is common in both Spain and Latin America and ranges from everyday to literary usage. While it strongly emphasizes fear or shock, it can be applied across various intensities depending on context. It is often replaced by synonyms in more neutral registers, while in highly expressive contexts it reinforces a deliberately dramatic tone.

Pronunciation: espanˈto-sa.