scare

¹scare

verb \ˈsker\

: to cause (someone) to become afraid

: to become afraid

scaredscar·ing

Full Definition of SCARE

transitive verb

:  to frighten especially suddenly :  alarm

intransitive verb

:  to become scared

— scar·er noun

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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

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

²scare

noun

: a sudden feeling of fear

: a situation in which a lot of people become afraid because of some threat, danger, etc.

Full Definition of SCARE

1

:  a sudden fright

2

:  a widespread state of alarm :  panic

— scare adjective

Examples of SCARE

1. There have been scares about the water supply being contaminated.
2. <fired over their heads in order to throw a scare into them>

First Known Use of SCARE

circa 1548

Related to SCARE

Synonyms

alarm (also alarum), anxiety, dread, fearfulness, fright, horror, panic, fear, terror, trepidation

Related Words

phobia; creeps, jitters, nervousness, willies; pang, qualm, twinge; agitation, apprehension, consternation, discomposure, disquiet, funk, perturbation; concern, dismay, worry; cowardice, faintheartedness, timidity, timorousness

Near Antonyms

aplomb, assurance, boldness, confidence, self-assurance, self-confidence; bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, fortitude, gallantry, hardihood, intrepidity, intrepidness, stoutness, valor; audacity, guts, nerve