different between foreboding vs frightening

English

Alternative forms

• forboding (much less commonly used)

Etymology

From Middle English forbodyng, vorboding, equivalent to fore- +? boding. Compare German Vorbote (“harbinger, omen”).

Noun

foreboding (plural forebodings)

1. A sense of evil to come.

   Synonym: augury
2. An evil omen.

Translations

Adjective

foreboding (comparative more foreboding, superlative most foreboding)

1. Of ominous significance; serving as an ill omen; foretelling of harm or difficulty.

Verb

foreboding

1. present participle of forebode

English

Etymology

frighten +? -ing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?f?a?t?n??/, /?f?a?tn??/
• Hyphenation: fright?en?ing

Adjective

frightening (comparative more frightening, superlative most frightening)

1. Causing fear; of capable of causing fear; scary.

   Riding the rollercoaster was a frightening experience.

2. (figuratively) Awful, terrible, very bad.

Synonyms

• Thesaurus:frightening

Derived terms

• frighteningly

Translations

Verb

frightening

1. present participle of frighten

   The scientist was frightening the timid children.