The documentary presented a frightening account of rising sea levels, showing coastal cities submerged under several meters of water by 2100.
这部纪录片呈现了海平面上升的可怕情景，展示了到2100年沿海城市被数米深水淹没的景象。
Which choice best defines “frightening”?
B — Making someone afraid or anxious. “frightening” means making someone afraid or anxious.
Which word means “making someone afraid or anxious”?
B — frightening. “frightening” means making someone afraid or anxious.
frightening — making someone afraid or anxious. In Chinese: 令人害怕的.
frightening is pronounced /ˈfraɪtnɪŋ/.
The documentary presented a frightening account of rising sea levels, showing coastal cities submerged under several meters of water by 2100. (这部纪录片呈现了海平面上升的可怕情景，展示了到2100年沿海城市被数米深水淹没的景象。)
alarming, terrifying, scary — all close in meaning to frightening (making someone afraid or anxious).
reassuring, comforting — each the opposite of frightening (making someone afraid or anxious).
Yes. frightening is on the SAT Prep Basic list — the everyday academic words the SAT assumes you already have. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.