most frightening

ADJECTIVE

scary, shocking

Synonyms

WEAK

alarming appalling atrocious awesome awful chilling daunting dire direful dismaying disquieting dread dreadful fearful fearsome formidable ghastly grabber grim grisly gruesome hair-raising hairy harrowing hideous horrendous horrible horrid horrifying inconceivable intimidating lurid macabre menacing morbid ominous petrifying portentous repellent spooky terrible terrifying traumatic unnerving unspeakable

Antonyms

WEAK

calming comforting pleasing

ADJECTIVE

fearsome

Synonyms

STRONGEST

daunting disheartening

WEAK

formidable rebarbative redoubtable

Antonyms

WEAK

comforting

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.

In horror films, the most frightening threats are often the ones you cannot see.

From Science Daily • Dec. 28, 2025

But where “The Monkey’s” snide sense of humor about its kills quickly grew smug, this time Perkins’ light touch — even during the most frightening moments — gives this slight film just the right proportionality.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2025

Then she told me about her illegal abortion, which was the most frightening and humiliating experience of her life.

From Salon • Oct. 13, 2024

"The Barrow Blitz was probably the most frightening moment that the Tate men had," Dr David said.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2024

“The most frightening is probably the Irukandji. Deadly, transparent, and tiny—you won’t even see this animal in the water.”

From "The Thing About Jellyfish" by Ali Benjamin