frighten

Frighten is a verb meaning to cause fear or to make someone feel afraid. It is commonly used with a direct object, as in frighten someone or frighten a person, animal, or object. The action can describe a sudden shock or a more persistent sense of unease. In the past tense it can be used as “frightened,” as in “The loud thunder frightened the cat.”

The phrase frighten away (or frighten off) describes driving someone or something away by fear or intimidation. For example, a loud noise can frighten away small animals, or a warning might frighten off intruders. Frighten is generally milder than words like terrify or intimidate, though context can intensify its impact.

Etymology and forms: frighten derives from the noun fright, meaning fear or alarm, with the suffix -en forming a verb. It has been part of English since the Middle English period. Related forms include frightened (past participle and adjective), frightening (present participle or adjective), and frightful (adjective describing something that causes fear).

Usage notes: Frighten is versatile in both everyday and literary contexts. It can describe pets reacting to loud sounds, people reacting to danger, or situations that provoke sudden fear. Synonyms include scare, alarm, and terrify, with varying degrees of intensity. The passive construction, “I was frightened,” is common for describing a person’s or animal’s emotional state after a frightening event.