14
menacing(adjective, person, strong, severe, intense)
13
grisly(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
13
hair-raising(adjective, excitement, awful, terrible, horrible)
13
harrowing(verb, adjective, awful, terrible, horrible)
13
horrid(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
12
gruesome(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
12
horrific(adjective, awful, terrible, disgusting, shocking)
12
macabre(adjective, nasty, awful, grim, shocking)
11
abominable(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
11
creepy(adjective, hard, severe, nasty, offensive)
11
dreaded(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
10
direful(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
10
formidable(adjective, awful, terrible, wonderful, disgusting)
10
hideous(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
10
threatening(noun, verb, adjective, person, strong)
9
atrocious(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
9
dismaying(verb, adjective, hard, severe, offensive)
9
eerie(adjective, spooky)
9
grim(adjective, tough, offensive, dark, awful)
9
petrifying(verb, adjective, awful, terrible, disgusting)
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APASmart Define. (2016). frightening thesaurus. Retrieved September 25, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/frightening/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2016. "frightening thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/frightening/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 25, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2016, frightening thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 25 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/frightening/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "frightening thesaurus" 23 March 2016. Web. 25 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/frightening/thesaurus/synonyms>