Subscriber login
Password
Forgot your password?
Library card login
Login with Shibboleth® »
Login with Athens »
Close menu
Oxford Dictionaries Online
The world's most trusted dictionaries
About
Subscriber services
What's new
Contact us
Help
Subscribe now
Already a subscriber or in a subscribing organization?
Login
Dictionary
Other language resources
US English
World English
Dictionary
Better writing
World of words
Puzzles and games
For children and schools
For learners of English
Email
Cite
frightener
(fright|en¦er)
Pronunciation:
/ˈfrʌɪt(ə)nə/
noun
a person or thing that frightens someone.
British
informal
a member of a criminal gang who intimidates its victims.
Phrases
put the frighteners on
British
informal
threaten or intimidate (someone):
trying to put the frighteners on those who wish to roam over open country is childish
Nearby Words
frig
2
frigate
frigate bird
Frigga
frigging
fright
fright wig
frighten
frightened
frightener
frightening
frightful
frightfully
frigid
frigid zone
frigidarium
frijol
frijoles
frikkadel