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- pronunciation:
- fraI
t
 n
- features:
- Word Builder, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
frightens, frightening, frightened |
| definition 1: |
to cause fear in; scare.
The growling dog frightened the children.- synonyms:
- scare, terrify, terrorize
- similar words:
- alarm, dismay, horrify, petrify, threaten
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| definition 2: |
to cause to move away suddenly by causing fear (usually followed by "away" or "off").
The scarecrow will frighten away the crows.- synonyms:
- scare, startle
- similar words:
- agitate, disturb, panic
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| related words: |
menace, startle |
| derivation: |
frighteningly (adv.) |
Word Builder: frighten +
- frightened:
having caused fear in.
- frightening:
causing fear; scary.
The word frighten
contains the following part:
-en1
Old English
verb-forming suffix
that means to cause to be or become or have
  More about this word part:
The suffix -en1 forms verbs from monosyllabic English adjectives.
Example words:
awaken, blacken, broaden, dampen, darken, deaden, deafen, deepen, enlighten, fatten, flatten, freshen, frighten, glisten, harden, hasten, lengthen, lessen, lighten, loosen, moisten, ripen, sharpen, shorten, soften, straighten, strengthen, tighten, weaken, whiten, widen
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