Associations to the word «Frightful»

Wiktionary

FRIGHTFUL, adjective. (obsolete): Full of fright; affrighted; frightened.
FRIGHTFUL, adjective. Full of that which causes fright; exciting alarm; impressing terror; shocking; as, a frightful chasm, or tempest; a frightful appearance.
FRIGHTFUL, adjective. Used as an intensifier

Dictionary definition

FRIGHTFUL, adjective. Provoking horror; "an atrocious automobile accident"; "a frightful crime of decapitation"; "an alarming, even horrifying, picture"; "war is beyond all words horrible"- Winston Churchill; "an ugly wound".
FRIGHTFUL, adjective. Extreme in degree or extent or amount or impact; "in a frightful hurry"; "spent a frightful amount of money".
FRIGHTFUL, adjective. Extremely distressing; "fearful slum conditions"; "a frightful mistake".

Wise words

Words are always getting conventionalized to some secondary meaning. It is one of the works of poetry to take the truants in custody and bring them back to their right senses.
William Butler Yeats