scare

¹scare

verb \ˈsker\

scaredscar·ing

Definition of SCARE

transitive verb

: to frighten especially suddenly : alarm

intransitive verb

: to become scared

— scar·er noun

Examples of SCARE

1. You scared me. I didn't see you there.
2. Stop that, you're scaring the children.

Origin of SCARE

Middle English skerren, from Old Norse skirra, from skjarr shy, timid

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to SCARE

Synonyms: affright, alarm (also alarum), fright, horrify, panic, frighten, scarify, shock, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize

Antonyms: reassure

Related Words: appall (also appal), bowl over, dismay, floor, jolt, shake, shake up; amaze, astound, awe; chill, daunt, demoralize, dispirit, emasculate, psych (out), undo, unman, unnerve, unstring; discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distract, distress, disturb, perturb, unsettle, upset, worry

Near Antonyms: assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe; embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, steel

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Rhymes with SCARE

air, Ayr, bare, bear, Blair, blare, care, chair, chare, dare, Dare, e'er, ere, err, eyre, fair, fare, flair, flare, glair, glare, hair, hare, Herr, heir, lair, mare, ne'er, pair, pare, pear, prayer, rare, rear, share, snare, spare, square, stair, stare, swear, tare, tear, their, there, vair, ware, wear, weir, where, yare