What does "frighten" mean?

To cause to feel fear; to scare; to cause to feel alarm or fright.

What is a synonym for "frighten"?

Common synonyms include: scare, affright, alarm, terrify, afeared, affrays.

/ˈfɹaɪ.tən/ verb

verb ·Moderate ·High school level

Verb

1
To cause to feel fear; to scare; to cause to feel alarm or fright. transitive
"Avery puts a sheet over her head, pretending to be a ghost to frighten Emily."
2
cause fear in wordnet
3
To become scared or alarmed. intransitive
"In fitting the White Leghorns for exhibition, it must be remembered that they are of nervous disposition and frighten easily."

"I spoke to him kindly so as not to frighten him."

From Middle English *frightenen, equivalent to fright + -en.