how frightful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how frightful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong reaction to something that is terrifying or alarming. Example: "As the storm approached, I couldn't help but exclaim, 'How frightful this weather has become!'"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

How frightful!

Independent

After the researchers plotted the data, they confronted the essential difficulty of all attempts to say just how frightful the weather feels to the average person.

The New York Times - Science

It was a vomiting up of the gloomy religiosity that the father had worked upon the son: Oh, how frightful it is when I think for even a moment of the dark background of my life, right from the earliest days.

The New Yorker

Nevertheless, when you angrily excoriate New Labour's version of the centre left and generally see the world as going to hell in a handcart - as both men do, especially Hall - it is, surely, not unreasonable to expect a wee bit of evidence for how frightful everything is.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was a vomiting up of the gloomy religiosity that the father had worked upon the son: **{:.break one} ** Oh, how frightful it is when I think for even a moment of the dark background of my life, right from the earliest days.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It's here that you begin to confront how thoroughly the Frightful Five have woven their way into our lives, and how completely we've come to depend on them.

The New York Times - Tech

My wife and I were alarmed to note how haggard this frightful experience was making us, until we discovered that every mirror on board was deliberately warped to give passengers the impression that the sea air was slimming them.

Forbes

The weather outside isn't frightful, so how can it possibly be Christmas time?

The Guardian

Whether or not the weather outside is frightful, knowing how and why airlines operate the way they do is a first step in minimizing the effects of travel calamity.

BBC

"The bus terminal's my baby," said Ken Philmus, the director of tunnels, bridges, and terminals for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who in 1991 was charged with figuring out how to make it a less frightful place.

The New York Times

The amazing thing about his frightful behaviour is not only how often he was forgiven for it, but that time and again we read how it inspired admiration.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how frightful" to express a strong, often theatrical, sense of dismay or alarm. It's particularly effective when reacting to unexpected or shocking news.

Common error

Avoid using "how frightful" too frequently in everyday conversation, as it can sound overly dramatic or affected. Opt for more common alternatives like "how terrible" or "how awful" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how frightful" functions as an exclamatory expression, conveying a strong negative reaction or sentiment. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it expresses alarm or dismay, typically in response to something unpleasant or shocking. The intensity of feeling is emphasized through this structure.

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 "how frightful" is used to express strong dismay, shock, or alarm. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its suitability for expressing a heightened emotional response. While somewhat formal, it is predominantly found in news and media contexts. It is advisable to consider more common alternatives like "how terrible" or "how awful" in informal settings. The choice of "how frightful" depends on the desired impact and the context of the conversation or writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how dreadful

Replaces "frightful" with "dreadful", maintaining the sense of something extremely unpleasant or shocking.

how terrible

Substitutes "frightful" with "terrible", emphasizing the severity and unpleasantness of the situation.

how awful

Uses "awful" instead of "frightful", highlighting the distressing or unpleasant nature of the subject.

how shocking

Replaces "frightful" with "shocking", focusing on the unexpected and disturbing aspect.

how alarming

Substitutes "frightful" with "alarming", emphasizing the sense of danger or concern.

how appalling

Uses "appalling" instead of "frightful", indicating something deeply shocking and unacceptable.

how horrifying

Replaces "frightful" with "horrifying", stressing the terrifying nature of the situation.

how distressing

Substitutes "frightful" with "distressing", highlighting the emotional upset caused by the situation.

how dreadful it is

Adds "it is" to emphasize the subjectiveness of the statement. It is considered a stylistic change, used to introduce a more personal reaction.

how very unpleasant

Replaces "frightful" with a more understated "very unpleasant", softening the emotional impact.

FAQs

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

You can use "how frightful" to express strong dismay or shock. For example, "How frightful that the company is downsizing!" or "How frightful, I've lost my keys!"

What are some alternatives to "how frightful"?

Alternatives include "how dreadful", "how terrible", or "how awful", depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is "how frightful" formal or informal?

"How frightful" leans towards a more formal or dramatic register. In casual conversations, you might prefer phrases like "how awful" or "how terrible".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "how frightful"?

Use "how frightful" when you want to express a strong negative reaction in a somewhat theatrical or formal manner, such as in writing or when speaking in a more formal setting. It can also be used ironically for comedic effect.