Frightful/ˈfraɪtfl/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Severity Scale Use 'frightful' to describe something much worse than unpleasant or bad. She lived through a frightful ordeal during the storm. Pro Tip 2/3Not For People Avoid using 'frightful' for people unless you mean to be very rude or humorous. He told a frightful joke that offended everyone. Pro Tip 3/3Amplify Discomfort 'Frightful' suggests a strong discomfort or dreadful feeling about a situation. The room was in a frightful state after the party.