kind of frightened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kind of frightened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a mild or moderate level of fear or anxiety about something. Example: "I was kind of frightened when I heard the loud noise outside my window."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Kind of frightened.

The New Yorker

"We didn't consider the fact that none of the other chimps had seen horses before, so they were kind of frightened.

The New York Times

And, he used to tell me, growing up: 'I'm reading your letters and I've seen it, whatever it is, you've got it.' I was literally about 14 or 15 and the letters definitely had no evidence of natural writing ability, but I remember him giving me the talk: 'You've got the keys to the kingdom.' And feeling flattered and kind of frightened.

The Guardian - Film

I was kind of frightened to take that picture.

Vice

For them, James Holmes is not necessarily a hero, but a kind of frightened rabbit in the headlights of a cruel world.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It was, he acknowledged, kind of frightening.

The New York Times - Sports

It was kind of frightening that day in Brooklyn when I was getting sworn in.

The New York Times

"The simplicity of it is kind of frightening in this day and age," Goldman told me, recently.

The New Yorker

This is like maybe 10 women and children [who days earlier blockaded the site], to have 20 security guards sent, it's kind of frightening.

The Guardian

Also, I've seen real people use it as a real phrase, which is kind of frightening.

TechCrunch

In the subsequent years, many of Arkin's friends moved from homes and apartments into co-ops, a situation he describes as "kind of frightening".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kind of frightened" to express a moderate level of fear or apprehension, suitable for informal or conversational contexts.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "kind of frightened" in formal writing. Opt for more precise and descriptive alternatives, such as "apprehensive" or "intimidated", to convey the specific nuance of fear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kind of frightened" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of being slightly scared or apprehensive. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

22%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "kind of frightened" is a grammatically sound and relatively infrequent way to express a moderate level of fear or apprehension. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is generally correct and is commonly found in News & Media. For more formal contexts, consider using synonyms like "somewhat scared" or "slightly apprehensive" to achieve a more precise and professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat scared

Replaces "frightened" with "scared" and "kind of" with "somewhat", indicating a slightly less formal tone.

a little afraid

Substitutes "frightened" with "afraid" and "kind of" with "a little", offering a milder expression of fear.

slightly scared

Uses "slightly" instead of "kind of", suggesting a marginal degree of fear.

a bit frightened

Replaces "kind of" with "a bit", conveying a similar level of fear with a more informal tone.

rather frightened

Employs "rather" instead of "kind of", indicating a slightly more pronounced degree of fear.

a touch scared

Uses "a touch" instead of "kind of", providing a very mild expression of fear.

mildly frightened

Replaces "kind of" with "mildly", indicating a gentle level of fear or unease.

somewhat intimidated

Replaces "frightened" with "intimidated", shifting the focus to a feeling of being threatened or overawed.

a little anxious

Substitutes "frightened" with "anxious", changing the emotion to one of worry and unease.

slightly apprehensive

Replaces "frightened" with "apprehensive", suggesting a more anticipatory and thoughtful form of unease.

FAQs

How can I use "kind of frightened" in a sentence?

You can use "kind of frightened" to express a mild degree of fear or unease. For example: "I was "kind of frightened" when I heard the strange noise at night".

What can I say instead of "kind of frightened"?

Alternatives include "somewhat scared", "a little afraid", or "slightly apprehensive", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "kind of frightened" grammatically correct?

Yes, "kind of frightened" is grammatically correct and commonly used in informal contexts. It functions as an adjective phrase modifying a subject.

What's the difference between "kind of frightened" and "terrified"?

"Kind of frightened" expresses a mild to moderate level of fear, while "terrified" implies an extreme level of fear or dread. Choose the word that accurately reflects the intensity of the emotion.