as frightful as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as frightful as" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to make a comparison, typically to describe something that is equally terrifying or alarming as another thing. Example: "The storm was as frightful as the tales of the haunted house in the village."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Playing the game was as frightful as it was fun.

The New York Times - Arts

How could a continent be brought together by something as frightful as, say, the 1976 winner Save Your Kisses for Me, even though it was sung by a band with the global-group-hug-of-an- admittedly-sexist -name Brotherhood of Man?

The Guardian - Music

This comparison is always as frightful as it is useless.

Huffington Post

Oh the weather outside isn't nearly as frightful as the shitstorm inside this house.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Though Jonathan Pryce isn't as frightful looking as Wroe is described in the book ("small, dark and hunchbacked"), he skillfully conveys what made Wroe repugnant and charismatic.

The New York Times - Arts

As frightful — or bizarrely normal for Los Angeles — as this all sounds, the prospect of listening to more than four hours of commuting-themed music could frighten off would-be downloaders of Mr. Elkins's opus.

The New York Times

His lawyer, Joseph A. Hanshe, described his client as "frightful about what was going on". "Right now, he has denied everything," Mr. Hanshe said.

The New York Times

If ever the world needed a symbol of the potency of the threat that confronts us all, here it was as frightful actuality.

The Guardian

bull can be electrifying as well as frightful.

Huffington Post

Most of the rest of the profile -- which seems to be well-informed by those aforementioned "estranged family members" who collectively commiserate by sending "scheming Sally updates" to one another via email -- essentially depicts her as frightful and deranged.

Huffington Post

The microbe Cthulhu macrofasciculumque doesn't appear quite as frightful under a microscope, but it does have a bundle of more than 20 flagella that resembles a tuft of tentacles beating in sync.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as frightful as" to create a vivid comparison emphasizing the terrifying or alarming nature of something. This phrase is particularly effective when you want to evoke a strong emotional response in your audience.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "as frightful as" can sound overly dramatic in casual conversation. Opt for more common alternatives like "as scary as" or "as terrible as" to maintain a natural tone in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as frightful as" functions primarily as a comparative, linking two elements that share a similar degree of fear or alarm. As shown by Ludwig, it serves to equate the intensity of the emotions evoked by both subjects being compared.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as frightful as" serves as a comparative tool to equate the level of fear or alarm between two subjects. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and most commonly found in news and media contexts. While effective for emphasizing intense emotions, it's wise to consider simpler alternatives in casual settings. Overall, "as frightful as" is a valuable phrase for descriptive writing when you want to evoke a strong emotional response by highlighting the terrifying nature of something through comparison.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as terrifying as

Replaces "frightful" with a synonym emphasizing intense fear.

as alarming as

Substitutes "frightful" with a word highlighting concern and unease.

as dreadful as

Uses "dreadful" instead of "frightful" to suggest something causing great fear or suffering.

as horrifying as

Replaces "frightful" with a term that signifies something causing intense disgust and shock.

as scary as

Uses a more informal synonym, "scary", in place of "frightful".

as fearsome as

Employs "fearsome" to denote something inspiring great fear or awe.

as ghastly as

Uses "ghastly" to describe something shockingly repellent or horrible.

as appalling as

Replaces "frightful" with "appalling", indicating something causing dismay or disgust.

as gruesome as

Uses "gruesome" to describe something repulsively horrifying, typically involving violence or injury.

as horrendous as

Substitutes "frightful" with "horrendous", suggesting something extremely unpleasant or shocking.

FAQs

What does "as frightful as" mean?

The phrase "as frightful as" is used to compare two things, indicating that they are equally terrifying or alarming. It emphasizes the degree of fear or dread associated with both subjects.

How can I use "as frightful as" in a sentence?

You can use "as frightful as" to compare situations, events, or objects, highlighting their similarity in causing fear or alarm. For example, "The prospect of failing the exam was "as frightful as" facing a monster under my bed."

What are some alternatives to "as frightful as"?

You can use alternatives like "as terrifying as", "as alarming as", or "as dreadful as" to convey a similar meaning, depending on the specific nuance you want to emphasize.

Is "as frightful as" appropriate for all types of writing?

While grammatically correct, "as frightful as" is more suited for formal or descriptive writing where a heightened sense of fear or alarm is intended. In casual conversations, simpler alternatives might be more appropriate.