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Definition of frightfulness

frightfulness

/ˈfɹaɪt.fəl.nəs/
fright · ful · ness
Adverb:frightfully
•
Adjective:frightful
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frightfulness Lexical Profile

frightfulness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The quality or state of being terrifying, shocking, or extremely unpleasant.

Example

"The sheer frightfulness of the storm kept all the villagers indoors throughout the night."

2

A historical policy or practice of using systematic terror and severe intimidation to subjugate a civilian population.

Example

"Historians documented how the occupying regime relied on calculated frightfulness to suppress local resistance."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for frightfulness

• Nearby Words

frighteningly
frightful
frightfully
frightfulness
frigid
frigidity
frigidly

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in English from 'frightful' and '-ness', where 'fright' derives from Old English 'fyrhto' (fear, trembling). In the early 20th century, the word was specifically used as a calque of the German 'Schrecklichkeit', referring to a deliberate military policy of terrorizing civilian populations.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Frightfulness. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/frightfulness
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