
Frightful
Severity Scale
Use 'frightful' to describe something much worse than unpleasant or bad.
She lived through a frightful ordeal during the storm.
Not For People
Avoid using 'frightful' for people unless you mean to be very rude or humorous.
He told a frightful joke that offended everyone.
Amplify Discomfort
'Frightful' suggests a strong discomfort or dreadful feeling about a situation.
The room was in a frightful state after the party.