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.

“What will he say?” could be the most frightening question of all.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026

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

From Science Daily • Dec. 28, 2025

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, he said he's heard from victims that "this is the most frightening thing you can experience, it's like drowning".

From BBC • Jul. 3, 2025

For more than two years, as this country of 44 million people has fought off an all-out invasion by neighboring Russia, a spirit of stubborn optimism prevailed even amid the most frightening moments.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2024

There’s one channel that has nothing but the most frightening shows about wild animals attacking one another.

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney