Meanings
comparative more frighteningly · superlative most frighteningly
- In a frightening or terrifying manner.
Synonyms: terrifyingly
- Very; beyond usual expectation so as to cause surprise or concern.
The pitcher that was set before me was frighteningly large.
1 more example
Risk is everywhere.[…]For each [kind] there is a frighteningly precise measurement of just how likely it is to jump from the shadows and get you. “The Norm Chronicles”[…]aims to help data-phobes find their way through this blizzard of risks.
2013 June 22, “Snakes and ladders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, archived from the original on 11 Jan 2025, page 76Synonyms: surprisingly
Synonyms & antonyms
adverbIn a frightening or terrifying manner.
adverbVery; beyond usual expectation so as to cause surprise or concern.
More synonyms by meaning
adverbin a terrifying manner
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Catalan espantosament
- espantosamentin a frightening manner
Finnish hirvittävästi, pelottavasti
- hirvittävästiin a frightening manner
- pelottavastiin a frightening manner
- karmivastiin a frightening manner
Polish przerażająco
- przerażającoin a frightening manner
Portuguese espantosamente
- espantosamentein a frightening manner
Russian пуга́юще
- пуга́юще (pugájušče)in a frightening manner
Spanish espantosamente
- espantosamentein a frightening manner
Cite this entry
frighteningly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/frighteningly
“frighteningly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/frighteningly. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “frighteningly,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/frighteningly.
Source: frighteningly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.