frightful

/ˈfraɪtfəl/

/ˈfraɪtfəl/

Anything that makes you feel horrified is frightful, whether it's a frightful traffic accident on the highway or your brother's frightful new haircut.

This adjective is more common among British English speakers than American ones, but no matter where you live it's a good way to describe something that causes distress, shock, or offense. You may look frightful after falling in the swimming pool while fully clothed, but the frightful sounds coming from a haunted house might cause you to feel more actual terror — or fright.

Definitions of frightful

1. adjective

   provoking horror
   synonyms: atrocious, horrible, horrifying, ugly

   alarming

   frightening because of an awareness of danger
2. adjective

   extremely distressing
   “a frightful mistake”

   synonyms: fearful

   bad

   having undesirable or negative qualities
3. adjective

   extreme in degree or extent or amount or impact
   “in a frightful hurry”

   “spent a frightful amount of money”

   synonyms: awful, terrible, tremendous

   extraordinary

   beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable