frightened with

USAGE SUMMARY

"frightened with" is a grammatically correct construction and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used to describe someone's state or emotion of being afraid or scared because of a particular thing or situation. Example: She was frightened with the loud noises coming from outside her window and couldn't fall asleep. In this example, "frightened with" is used to show that the person's fear was caused by the loud noises.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

I think we got frightened with cinema.

The Guardian - Film

"I get so frightened with what the future holds … that we'll lose the house," she says.

The Guardian - Opinion

But we all harbor an inner 2-year-old: naturally stubborn and easily frightened, with no recourse in the face of unfathomable hurt but to stamp our feet and wail.

The New York Times - Books

I am frightened with that.

Lingua Sinica

Says Jack Welch: "Big companies like us were frightened with the advent of the Net.

Forbes

I was anxious and frightened with the reality of having this non-hereditary, aggressive type of cancer.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Refreshingly, the season is also genuinely frightening, with at least one truly nightmarish vision per week.

The New Yorker

The resulting dreams shift from happy to sad to frightening with manic abandon.

Independent

The Telegraph thought Miliband "frightening" with his obvious intention to bring socialism back to Britain.

The Guardian

The author has battles, some of them frightening, with the prison guards, who mostly scorn him as a Harvard twerp.

The New York Times - Books

The soldiers were initially frightening with their battledress and machine guns as they blundered in, messed up the houses of suspects and carried off whatever took their fancy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "frightened with", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the fear. It's most effective when the cause is a specific event, object, or concept.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "frightened with" can sound less polished in formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "afraid of" or "intimidated by" in academic or professional settings to maintain a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "frightened with" is to act as an adjectival phrase, describing a state of being afraid or scared because of something. It functions as a predicate adjective when used after a linking verb.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "frightened with" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to express fear caused by something specific. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides several examples of its usage across various domains. While acceptable in many contexts, it might be considered less formal than alternatives like "afraid of" or "intimidated by", particularly in academic or professional settings. When using this phrase, ensure the cause of the fear is clearly indicated for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

afraid of

A more common and versatile alternative, suitable for various contexts.

scared of

Similar in meaning, but slightly more informal than "afraid of".

fearful of

A more formal synonym for "afraid of".

terrified by

Indicates a stronger degree of fear than "frightened with".

intimidated by

Suggests fear mixed with a sense of being overpowered or threatened.

dread of

Implies a strong aversion and fear of something anticipated.

apprehensive about

Implies anxiety or unease about a future event or situation.

anxious about

Focuses on worry and nervousness rather than a direct experience of fear.

nervous about

Indicates a milder form of anxiety or unease.

worried about

Implies concern and apprehension about a potential negative outcome.

FAQs

Is "frightened with" grammatically correct?

Yes, "frightened with" is grammatically correct and can be used, although alternatives like "afraid of" or "scared of" are more common.

What does "frightened with" mean?

It means feeling fear or apprehension due to something specific. It expresses the state of being scared because of something.

Are there situations where I shouldn't use "frightened with"?

While grammatically sound, "frightened with" might sound less formal in academic or professional writing. Consider using alternatives like "intimidated by" or "apprehensive about" in those contexts.

How can I improve my sentence using the phrase "frightened with"?

Ensure the cause of the fear is clear and specific. Instead of "I was frightened with something", specify what made you scared: "I was frightened with the loud thunder".