adj, adv ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Adjective

1. 1
   Frightful; dreadful.
2. 2
   1880, Allen Putnam, Witchcraft of New England Explained by Modern Spiritualism, page 404
3. 3
   1880, Allen Putnam, Witchcraft of New England Explained by Modern Spiritualism, page 404: "His wives" (he had buried two) had privately complained unto the neighbors about frightly apparitions of evil spirits with which their house was sometimes infested; and many such things had been whispered among the neighborhood."; "His wives" (he had buried two) had privately complained unto the neighbors about frightly apparitions of evil spirits with which their house was sometimes infested; and many such things had been whispered among the neighborhood."
4. 4
   2013, Neils Axt, ChronoTales, page 15
5. 5
   2013, Neils Axt, ChronoTales, page 15: And they were the first, arriving at frightly matrimonial junction long before their high school classmates had seriously considered such options.; And they were the first, arriving at frightly matrimonial junction long before their high school classmates had seriously considered such options.

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6. 6
   2022, Garry Boulard, Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant: Their Epic Battle
7. 7
   2022, Garry Boulard, Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant: Their Epic Battle: A more frightly scene was scarcely ever witnessed,” Cadwallader observed.; A more frightly scene was scarcely ever witnessed,” Cadwallader observed.

Adverb

1. 1
   In a frightful or dreadful manner.
2. 2
   2025, Brett O'Conor, The Butcher
3. 3
   2025, Brett O'Conor, The Butcher: The Kentucky Fright Chicken. They are frightly good!; The Kentucky Fright Chicken. They are frightly good!

Etymology

From fright + -ly.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.