frighten

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The risk of similar consequences might be enough to frighten off many providers.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2026

Sanctions still hurt the targeted country, but they no longer frighten the market, especially if loosely enforced.

From Barron's • Nov. 20, 2025

Aggie wants his dogs to not run over and frighten her little, not scary dog; he wants her to join her neighbors in giving him an easement to build a jogging path behind their houses.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2025

The capacity of film to genuinely frighten, via editing, camera, music and—notably in a Wan film—ambient sound was being abandoned in favor of gore and giggles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2025

Scarlett said, “I thought you said the Sleer couldn’t hurt people. I thought all it could do was frighten us.”

From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman