🇬🇧 Frightful meaning: English Vocabulary Flash Card

If something is frightful, it is very, very scary or shocking, so much that it makes you want to scream, hide, or gasp, like a creepy monster, a loud thunderstorm, or a huge mess that surprises and scares you.

The monster tried to look frightful, but its polka-dot pajamas and fuzzy slippers ruined the effect.

Grandpa told a frightful tale about a world where kids had to do homework on weekends and holidays.

When the lights went out, I heard a frightful crunch and realized I’d just sat on my own chips.

The storm outside was frightful, but the frightful smell of my gym socks was even worse.

The roller coaster looked frightful from the ground, but the truly frightful part was my picture at the end, where my cheeks were flapping like superhero capes.

A small girl woke at night to a frightful noise. A frightful shadow moved in the hallway; the frightful creak of stairs made her hold her breath. She found a frightful wet coat on the floor and a frightful bird trapped inside. She opened the coat; the bird flew free and she laughed with relief.

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This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.