as in to frighten
to strike with fear
a ghastly sight that would affright any person
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affright
Verb
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The Secretary of State called the event an attempt to frighten public servants.—
Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 9 Jan. 2026
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But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds.—
Verb
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Just don’t understand the attraction of settling down with a book and scaring yourself half to death.—
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What's more, this door alarm features three sensitivity levels and emits a loud, shrill sound that will instantly scare an intruder away.—
Verb
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Arnoldo is still waiting for Houston authorities to help him, still terrified that a masked agent will come first.—
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Their mother, Dorothy (Susannah Flood), an alcoholic, is passive, withdrawn, and terrified of Mike.—
Verb
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Mission Viejo Animal Services responded to a call Friday morning from a Rancho Santa Margarita resident who reported that strong winds had startled the 16-month-old dog, Lana, prompting her to flee into a canyon area between Dove Canyon and Coto de Caza.—
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Authorities in southern Colorado are investigating after a sudden explosion damaged a building and startled nearby residents.—
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Cite this Entry
“Affright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affright. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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