French word

affolant

Pronunciation

IPA/afolɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectivealarming

Example

Cette situation est affolante et compliquée.

This situation is alarming and complicated.

Illustration for affolant (alarming)

More examples

Le bruit soudain était affolant.

The sudden noise was alarming.

Core concept

A calm mind suddenly knocked off balance by a situation that causes panic.

Common phrases

  • très affolant

    very alarming

  • vraiment affolant

    really alarming

  • quelque chose d'affolant

    something alarming

Similar words

inquiétant: Making people feel worried and unable to relax.
alarmant: Showing serious danger that demands immediate attention.
perturbant: Disrupting peace of mind and creating discomfort or confusion.
déstabilisant: Making people feel emotionally unstable and unsettled.

Definition in French

Qui cause une panique soudaine ou fait perdre son calme à quelqu'un.

Word origin

Affolant is the present participle of affoler, a verb historically formed from Old French fol, meaning mad, ultimately from Latin follis.

Usage tips

  • Affolant describes what causes panic, while affolé or affolée describes the person who has lost composure.

Other meanings

  • frighteningadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word