frighteners
Those who terrify
Frighteners are people or things that frighten.
The word appears most often in the British idiom put the frighteners on, meaning to intimidate or threaten someone into compliance: The gang put the frighteners on local shopkeepers.
The phrase suggests deliberate, often criminal intimidation rather than casual scaring.
Source of potential harm
- threatIndication of potential harm
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- browbeatingIntimidating with stern pressure
strong-arming · harassment · dominance · aggression · hostility · overbearing · tyranny · oppression
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- phobiaPersistent irrational dread
scare · alarm · trepidation · apprehension · nightmare · shock · creeps · willies
Methods using alarm to influence
- psychological warfareNon-violent enemy demoralization tactics
- shock tacticsSudden aggressive assault strategy
- bluffingDeceiving about one's position
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
scaremongering · threats · warnings · ultimatums · psyops · disinformation · propaganda · gaslighting
- ghostsSpirits of the deceased
- supernaturalBeyond natural explanation
- 1996Late twentieth-century year
- special effectsArtificial cinematic illusions
Michael J. Fox · spirits · paranormal · haunting · poltergeist
menace
Source of potential harm
- threatIndication of potential harm
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
browbeating · strong-arming · harassment · dominance · aggression · hostility · overbearing · tyranny · oppression · terrorization
terror
Extreme, overwhelming fear
phobia · scare · alarm · trepidation · apprehension · nightmare · shock · creeps · willies · heebie-jeebies
scare tactics
Methods using alarm to influence
- psychological warfareNon-violent enemy demoralization tactics
- shock tacticsSudden aggressive assault strategy
- bluffingDeceiving about one's position
fearmongering · scaremongering · threats · warnings · ultimatums · psyops · disinformation · propaganda · gaslighting · hoax
Peter Jackson
- ghostsSpirits of the deceased
- supernaturalBeyond natural explanation
- 1996Late twentieth-century year
Michael J. Fox · special effects · spirits · paranormal · haunting · poltergeist
frightenerscomforters
Padded bed coverings
soothers · reassurers · calmers · consolers · pacifiers
frightenersencouragers
Those who give support
reassurances · supporters · protectors · defenders · morale-boosters
frightenersencouragers
Those who give support
reassurances · sweeteners · enticements · inducements · carrots
- frightened rabbitScared lagomorph