fright

/fraɪt/

/fraɪt/

Other forms: frighted; frights; frighting

Fright is a feeling of fear, dread, or terror. You might scream in fright while watching a scary movie or riding a roller coaster.

Some fright is so intense that it makes you jump; other fright is caused by anticipating something vaguely scary, like a trip to the dentist or an encounter with your mean neighbor after your baseball breaks her window. Although it's old fashioned, you can also use fright as a verb, to mean "cause fear." The Old English root of fright is fyrhtu, "fear, dread, trembling, or horrible sight."

Definitions of fright

1. noun

   an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
   synonyms: fear, fearfulness

   types:

   alarm, consternation, dismay

   fear resulting from the awareness of danger

   creeps

   a feeling of fear and revulsion

   chill, frisson, quiver, shiver, shudder, thrill, tingle

   an almost pleasurable sensation of fright

   horror

   intense and profound fear

   hysteria

   excessive or uncontrollable fear

   affright, panic, terror

   an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety

   panic attack, scare

   a sudden attack of fear

   stage fright

   fear that affects a person about to face an audience

   apprehension, apprehensiveness, dread

   fearful expectation or anticipation

   timidity, timidness, timorousness

   fear of the unknown or unfamiliar or fear of making decisions

   intimidation

   the feeling of being intimidated; being made to feel afraid or timid

   swivet

   a panic or extreme discomposure

   trepidation

   a feeling of alarm or dread

   boding, foreboding, premonition, presentiment

   a feeling of evil to come

   suspense

   apprehension about what is going to happen

   cold feet

   timidity that prevents the continuation of a course of action

   shyness

   a feeling of fear of embarrassment

   diffidence, self-distrust, self-doubt

   lack of self-confidence

   gloom, gloominess, somberness, sombreness

   a feeling of melancholy apprehension

   chill, pall

   a sudden numbing dread

   type of:

   emotion

   any strong feeling
2. verb

   cause fear in
   synonyms: affright, frighten, scare

   types:

   bluff

   frighten someone by pretending to be stronger than one really is

   awe

   inspire awe in

   terrify, terrorise, terrorize

   fill with terror; frighten greatly

   intimidate

   make timid or fearful

   alarm, appal, appall, dismay, horrify

   fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised

   consternate

   fill with anxiety, dread, dismay, or confusion

   spook

   frighten or scare, and often provoke into a violent action

   cow, overawe

   subdue, restrain, or overcome by affecting with a feeling of awe; frighten (as with threats)

   hold over

   intimidate somebody (with a threat)

   ballyrag, boss around, browbeat, bully, bullyrag, hector, push around, strong-arm

   be bossy towards

   panic

   cause sudden fear in or fill with sudden panic

   shock

   strike with horror or terror

   type of:

   excite, shake, shake up, stimulate, stir

   stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of