ˈfrītfəl adjective
( sometimes frightfuller ; frightfullest )
Etymology: Middle English, from fright (I) + -ful
1.
a. archaic : tending to frighten easily : timid
b. dialect chiefly England : alarmed, frightened
2. : conducive to fright : likely to arouse the emotions of fright, fear, or alarm
the gods, as they appear to men, are radiant … the demons are frightful , producing perturbation and terror — H.O.Taylor
seeing some frightful specter — Charles Lamb
3. : egregious, startling, objectionable, or terrible (as because of enormity, outrageousness, or grotesqueness) and likely to shock, alarm, revolt, or stun
its cost in money, property loss, and lives was frightful — Allan Nevins & H.S.Commager
they talked most frightful scandal — George Meredith
regard the most frightful things as normal — H.M.Parshley
4. : extreme , awful
a frightful thirst
a frightful snob
Synonyms: see fearful