as in frightened
filled with fear or dread
the affrighted villagers ran in all directions at the first sight of the monster
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scared
to strike with fear
a ghastly sight that would affright any person
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affrighted
Adjective
-
The Japanese had cyclotrons but no nuclear lobby driven by frightened, concerned, or ambitious scientists.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025 -
Her parents were opposed to the Russian occupation but too frightened to talk about it.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Few books have scared me as much.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
-
And don’t be ashamed to straight-up ask if the route is appropriate for someone who has never rock climbed or is scared of climbing a ladder.—
Jen Murphy,
Outside,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Not every traveler wants to feel terrified on vacation, so this round-up of eight spooky places around the globe ranges from the perfectly harmless to the downright creepy.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Instead of bounding in with excitement, the golden retriever looks terrified.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Whether a pup bolts after a squirrel, slips its collar, or runs off after being startled, those first few minutes can feel endless.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Who jumped, startled, when Rey laughed nervously.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
After long mornings at my father’s bedside, my mother and I arrived at Confiserie Sprüngli weary and afraid.—
Aleksandra Crapanzano,
The Atlantic,
27 Oct. 2025
-
And while Parker wasn’t afraid of no ghosts, what about Huey Lewis’ lawyers?—
Joe Lynch,
Billboard,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Like Porcile, a horrified warning.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
When Trowbridge announces that Rayburn was the architect of the HMS Courageous attack and doesn’t say a word about Roylin, everyone is rocked back on their heels in horrified surprise, except for Dennison.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Still, Lebanon has reason to be especially alarmed.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Experts the Times spoke to seemed more alarmed.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
These are not the words of a Premier League cheerleader, or indeed of someone fearful that English football will be left behind if La Liga and Serie A get their way.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
This hesitancy is common, Travers said, because people may be fearful of being judged or of having their trauma follow them later in life.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Affrighted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affrighted. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share