Pronunciation: [fɹˈa͡ɪtfə͡l] (IPA) 
The word "frightful" is spelled as /ˈfraɪtfəl/. The first syllable "fright" is pronounced as /fraɪt/ with the "gh" being silent. The "ful" ending is pronounced as /fəl/. "Frightful" means causing fear or terror and can be used to describe a very unpleasant or shocking experience. It is important to learn how to spell words correctly as it helps to communicate more effectively and makes written communication easier to understand.
Frightful is an adjective commonly used to describe something that causes extreme fear, terror, or dread. It refers to a state, situation, or occurrence that is deeply alarming or filled with horror. The term is frequently associated with something disturbing, shocking, or ghastly in nature, often evoking a strong emotional response of intense fear or dismay.
When used to describe a person, frightful denotes an individual who is extremely fearsome, intimidating, or menacing in appearance, behavior, or actions. It implies that the person is capable of provoking intense fear or terror in others due to their intimidating characteristics or actions.
In relation to weather conditions, the term signifies a state of severe or dangerous phenomena, typically featuring turbulent winds, torrential rain, or destructive forces. It suggests that the weather is intensely alarming, capable of causing great harm or danger to individuals or property.
Furthermore, frightful can also be used metaphorically to describe something that is exceptionally unpleasant, displeasing, or uncomfortable. For instance, a frightful smell refers to an odor that is overpoweringly unpleasant or offensive, while a frightful experience alludes to a profoundly distressing or traumatizing event or circumstance.
Overall, the adjective frightful is centered around the concept of extreme fear, whether it be caused by something terrifying, dangerous, unpleasant, or shocking. Its usage conveys a sense of alarm, dread, or disquietude, emphasizing the profound impact on the emotions and psyche of those encountering such a situation or entity.
Exciting alarm or terror; shocking.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "frightful" originated from the combination of two English words: "fright" and "ful".
The term "fright" can be traced back to the Old English word "fyrhto", meaning fear or dread. It later evolved to Middle English as "fright", referring to a state of being afraid or scared.
The suffix "-ful" is a common adjectival ending in English, denoting fullness or abundance of a quality. In the case of "frightful", the addition of "-ful" turns the noun "fright" into an adjective, expressing a plentiful or abundant presence of fear.
Therefore, the etymology of "frightful" is derived from Old English "fyrhto" (fear) and the suffix "-ful", combining to represent something that causes or is full of fear.
