a frightening sight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a frightening sight" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that causes fear or alarm when seen. Example: "The abandoned house at the end of the street was a frightening sight, especially at night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It is a frightening sight, but it might be the best doughnut you will ever eat.

The New York Times - Travel

One woman kneads her belly as if she were rolling up a sleeping bag — a frightening sight.

The New Yorker

He tried to move on, but was stopped by a frightening sight: André Gregory doing a striptease.

The New York Times - Style

Dante Hall is a frightening sight for opposing special teams when he starts zigging and zagging on kick returns.

The New York Times

Eventually, the intelligence community picked up a frightening sight, the analyst recalled: "They had F-16s pre-positioned and armed for delivery — on full alert, with pilots in the aircraft.

The New Yorker

The image of a curled-up, hairless, flabby, four-limbed body with a dog-like face and long flapping ears, two of its grotesque humanoid babies suckling teats embedded in gorged flesh, makes a frightening sight.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The top part of the body is shown as human but with the face of a lion with an ornamented crown; side tusks are also depicted giving an overall frightening sight.

Wikipedia

Seeing any player dazed and lying in the dirt after a beaning is a rare and frightening sight, whether it is Piazza or Benny Agbayani.

The New York Times - Sports

THEY were a strange and frightening sight: men in vivid calico overblouses and pajama-like pants, their heads and faces covered by grotesque masks.

The New York Times

For Labour supporters appalled at the prospect of Brexit, it's an odd sensation to be rooting for Cameron, but the frightening sight of the opening blast from the rightwing press ought to stir more life into Labour's in campaign.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet that patch is one of the most brilliant and frightening sights in cinema in years.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a frightening sight" to describe something visually perceived that induces fear or alarm. Ensure the context clearly establishes the source and reason for the fear.

Common error

Avoid using "a frightening sight" to describe abstract concepts or feelings that aren't directly perceived visually. For instance, don't say 'The economic forecast was a frightening sight'; instead, use 'The economic forecast was frightening'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a frightening sight" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "frightening" modifies the noun "sight". It serves to describe something visually perceived that evokes fear or alarm, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a frightening sight" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for describing something visually perceived that causes fear or alarm. According to Ludwig AI, it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, indicating a neutral register. While several alternatives exist, such as ""a terrifying view"" or ""an alarming scene"", care should be taken to use the phrase appropriately in visual contexts. The phrase's authoritative usage across diverse sources underscores its validity in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a terrifying view

Replaces 'frightening' with 'terrifying' and 'sight' with 'view', both intensifying the sense of fear and altering the visual aspect.

an alarming scene

Substitutes 'frightening' with 'alarming' and 'sight' with 'scene', shifting the focus to the unsettling nature of the event.

a disturbing spectacle

Replaces 'frightening' with 'disturbing' and 'sight' with 'spectacle', emphasizing the unsettling and public nature of what is seen.

a chilling vision

Changes 'frightening' to 'chilling' and 'sight' to 'vision', highlighting a sense of cold dread and a mental image.

a horrifying spectacle

Uses 'horrifying' instead of 'frightening' and 'spectacle' instead of 'sight', amplifying the intensity of fear and emphasizing the grand scale of what's observed.

a dreadful scene

Replaces 'frightening' with 'dreadful' and 'sight' with 'scene', both indicating a sense of great fear and altering the context to an event.

an appalling vista

Substitutes 'frightening' with 'appalling' and 'sight' with 'vista', focusing on a shocking view or prospect.

a petrifying prospect

Replaces 'frightening' with 'petrifying' and 'sight' with 'prospect', suggesting a fear so intense it paralyzes, and focusing on a future possibility.

a spine-chilling spectacle

Uses a more figurative 'spine-chilling' instead of 'frightening' and retains 'spectacle', conveying intense fear through a physical sensation.

a hair-raising view

Employs the idiomatic 'hair-raising' instead of 'frightening' and 'view' instead of 'sight', adding a vivid, physical reaction to the description of fear.

FAQs

How can I use "a frightening sight" in a sentence?

Use "a frightening sight" to describe something you see that causes fear or alarm. For example, "The abandoned house was "a frightening sight" in the moonlight".

What are some alternatives to "a frightening sight"?

You can use phrases like "a terrifying view", "an alarming scene", or "a disturbing spectacle" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a frightening view" instead of "a frightening sight"?

Yes, "a terrifying view" is a valid alternative, especially when referring to a landscape or panorama. However, "a frightening sight" is more general and can apply to various things seen.

What's the difference between "a frightening sight" and "a scary sight"?

While both convey fear, "a scary sight" is generally less intense. "A frightening sight" suggests a deeper, more profound sense of fear or dread, while "a scary sight" is more commonly used for milder forms of fear, such as something that startles you.