frighten

to strike with fear <around the campfire the campers tried to frighten one another with ghostly legends and grisly tales> Synonyms affright, alarm (also alarum), fright, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, shock, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize 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 Phrases give one the creeps, make one's flesh creep (or crawl) Near Antonyms assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe; embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, steel Antonyms reassure