frightful
Causing great fear
Frightful means causing fright or alarm: a frightful accident, frightful screams in the night.
More commonly, it serves as an intensifier meaning very bad or extreme: The traffic was frightful, She's made a frightful mess of things.
This emphatic use sounds somewhat British and old-fashioned.
Frightfully works the same way: I'm frightfully sorry.
Evoking extreme fear
- horrifyingCausing extreme fear
- petrifyingInducing paralytic terror
- spine-chillingIntensely frightening or eerie
- bloodcurdlingExtremely frightening or horrifying
nightmarish · chilling · eerie · sinister · menacing · threatening · fearsome · dreadful
Unpleasant to look at
- unattractiveNot pleasing aesthetically
- homelyUnattractive in appearance
- ill-favoredUnattractive in appearance
- misshapenAbnormally or poorly formed
deformed · malformed · monstrous · ghastly · grim · grisly · cadaverous · haggard
Extremely bad quality
- terribleExtremely poor or distressing
- dreadfulCausing great fear or suffering
- horrendousExtremely unpleasant or bad
- atrociousAppallingly, shockingly wicked
abysmal · severe · intense · tremendous · shocking · outrageous · egregious · deplorable
Extremely unpleasant to see
- grotesqueDistorted, bizarre figure
- repugnantExtremely distasteful or offensive
- loathsomeArousing intense disgust
- revoltingCausing strong disgust
disgusting · abhorrent · repellent · sickening · vile · foul · nasty · abominable
Causing sudden surprise
- shockingCausing intense surprise
- disturbingCausing mental unease
- unsettlingCausing unease or discomfort
- disconcertingCausing unease or confusion
jarring · nerve-racking · worrisome · distressing · dismaying · daunting · intimidating · foreboding
terrifying
Evoking extreme fear
- horrifyingCausing extreme fear
- petrifyingInducing paralytic terror
- spine-chillingIntensely frightening or eerie
bloodcurdling · nightmarish · chilling · eerie · sinister · menacing · threatening · fearsome · dreadful · ghastly
unsightly
Unpleasant to look at
- unattractiveNot pleasing aesthetically
- homelyUnattractive in appearance
- ill-favoredUnattractive in appearance
misshapen · deformed · malformed · monstrous · ghastly · grim · grisly · cadaverous · haggard · garish
awful
Extremely bad quality
- terribleExtremely poor or distressing
- dreadfulCausing great fear or suffering
- horrendousExtremely unpleasant or bad
atrocious · abysmal · severe · intense · tremendous · shocking · outrageous · egregious · deplorable · lamentable
hideous
Extremely unpleasant to see
- grotesqueDistorted, bizarre figure
- repugnantExtremely distasteful or offensive
- loathsomeArousing intense disgust
revolting · disgusting · abhorrent · repellent · sickening · vile · foul · nasty · abominable · horrendous
startling
Causing sudden surprise
- shockingCausing intense surprise
- disturbingCausing mental unease
- unsettlingCausing unease or discomfort
disconcerting · jarring · nerve-racking · worrisome · distressing · dismaying · daunting · intimidating · foreboding · ominous
frightfulreassuring
Restoring calm or confidence
comforting · soothing · calming · consoling · tranquilizing