as in afraid
filled with fear or dread
at the sight of the grizzly bear he froze, being too scared to even run away
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in frightened
to strike with fear
thunderstorms have always scared her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scared
Carlos Rivas Jr, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
But Elodia said many immigrants will be too scared to come out and watch.
—Jasmine Garsd, NPR, 11 June 2026
Jeff Marks, CNBC, 3 June 2026
First, there are weightlifters who are interested in PEDs but are either scared off by anabolic steroids’ side effects or don’t want to risk buying them illegally.
—T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scared
Adjective
The same child can be Latino, immigrant, gay, trans, poor, undocumented, bilingual, scared, brilliant and full of promise.
—Carlos Rivas Jr, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
But Elodia said many immigrants will be too scared to come out and watch.
—Jasmine Garsd, NPR, 11 June 2026
Verb
Customers were scared off by the numerous delays and low manufacturing yields.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 3 June 2026
First, there are weightlifters who are interested in PEDs but are either scared off by anabolic steroids’ side effects or don’t want to risk buying them illegally.
—T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scared
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scared
Adjective
-
There is no reason to be afraid.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
-
One woman intended to use the time to order electrolytes online, another was seeking earring backs, and a third needed to find a male babysitter, as well as a summer swim program, for a four-and-a-half-year-old who is afraid of the water.—
Patricia Marx,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Dolma told me that when the wind turbines were being built, their noise frightened her livestock and carried across the valley, disturbing neighbors during windy times.—
Sanggay Tashi,
The Conversation,
11 June 2026
-
Hunters often lit blazing fires, which disoriented and frightened the elk, and as many animals as possible were killed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Because the road into Hunt was unpassable, the Childresses were forced into a monstrous kind of purgatory among other terrified parents at Ingram Elementary School.—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
-
Her 9-year-old daughter was terrified.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Her voice startled me, both rough and smooth—like a bottle of whiskey set in front of a princess.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
Zoo veterinarians and staff will closely monitor the cubs and observe their behaviors like making small climbs, scratching through substrate and calling to one another when startled.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
As a horrified Sam inadvertently observes, a creature has been sating itself on his buddy’s brain.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2026
-
As his tricks progressed, the Young Man felt horrified and confused at the same time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Her shocked caregiver stares at her uncomprehendingly.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
-
By Friday morning, people visiting the Pacifica Municipal Pier seemed less shocked than ready to mourn.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Furthermore, Kalambay casts doubt on the idea that Ilunga was fearful for his own or his family’s life.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Fiction can be tempting when facts prove elusive, and Tannahill’s series cherishes dancing between the demanding allure of the unknown and the fearful certainty of what can happen when pursuing it.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scared. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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