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Synonyms
Example Sentences
Verb
You scared me. I didn't see you there.
Stop that, you're scaring the children.
Noun
There have been scares about the water supply being contaminated.
fired over their heads in order to throw a scare into them
Recent Examples on the Web
Paul Richards, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023
At Çukurcuma Hamamı, a luxury bath house that has been welcoming visitors and locals into its steamy embrace since 1831, manager Büke Yurdadoğ is among many working in the travel industry concerned that the quake will scare away tourists.
—Feride Yalav-heckeroth, CNN, 18 Mar. 2023
This should scare the hell [out] of bankers and regulators worldwide.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 13 Mar. 2023
In his deposition, Schreier said his comments were made out of a concern that Bartiromo was straying too far from financial news and that coverage of divisive political issues would scare away advertisers from her program.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2023
How to scare off a coyote: Make loud noises, but do not turn and run away; the coyote may view it as an opportunity to chase.
—Ellie Willard, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2023
The handcuffing exercise, which brought the girl to tears in the courtroom, was intended to scare her away from doing drugs and ending up in court like her father, Benitez explained to her, according to a transcript of the Feb. 13 hearing.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2023
Three: Maybe a certain kind of indictment would scare his voters away.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 20 Feb. 2023
Audrey quickly burns herself out trying to make sure that Ben is comfortable and that her disapproving mother and suspiciously good-natured father do not scare away the man of her dreams.
—Jenny Wu, Washington Post, 24 Jan. 2023
Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 26 Feb. 2023
The Talk episode about her December health scare, which involved her being rushed to the hospital in Santa Paula, Calif., following a mysterious medical emergency.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 4 Jan. 2023
Biden’s central message was the ‘ULTRA MAGA’ scare.
—Alex Leary, WSJ, 7 Nov. 2022
In an alternate timeline, Timberlake could’ve delivered this poetic line and possibly have done this dance that doubles as a jump scare (instead of a different cringey one).
—Vulture, 31 Oct. 2022
On Saturday, senior quarterback William Watson put on a show to give St. John’s College High School (Md.) a scare in a 41-24 loss, delivering a statement that the defending D1 state champs can play with anyone in the country.
—Nate Weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2022
One year ago, Samford gave another SEC East team a scare, leading Florida 42-28 in the first half before the Gators rallied for a 70-52 win.
—Charles Odum, ajc, 10 Sep. 2022
In the wake of the NFL player's health scare, a GoFundMe benefitting Hamlin's charity has received more than $3.5 million in donations.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2023
Managed through unusual events (e.g., a pregnancy scare) to keep relationship operating to standard.
—Bryn Durgin, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2023
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Verb
With the moose upended, Jeremiah and the others sped forward to scare it off.
—Paul Richards, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023
At Çukurcuma Hamamı, a luxury bath house that has been welcoming visitors and locals into its steamy embrace since 1831, manager Büke Yurdadoğ is among many working in the travel industry concerned that the quake will scare away tourists.
—Feride Yalav-heckeroth, CNN, 18 Mar. 2023
This should scare the hell [out] of bankers and regulators worldwide.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 13 Mar. 2023
In his deposition, Schreier said his comments were made out of a concern that Bartiromo was straying too far from financial news and that coverage of divisive political issues would scare away advertisers from her program.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2023
How to scare off a coyote: Make loud noises, but do not turn and run away; the coyote may view it as an opportunity to chase.
—Ellie Willard, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2023
The handcuffing exercise, which brought the girl to tears in the courtroom, was intended to scare her away from doing drugs and ending up in court like her father, Benitez explained to her, according to a transcript of the Feb. 13 hearing.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2023
Three: Maybe a certain kind of indictment would scare his voters away.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 20 Feb. 2023
Audrey quickly burns herself out trying to make sure that Ben is comfortable and that her disapproving mother and suspiciously good-natured father do not scare away the man of her dreams.
—Jenny Wu, Washington Post, 24 Jan. 2023
Noun
In actuality, the screams are coming from cheap Halloween decor in pursuit of a good jump-scare.
—Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 26 Feb. 2023
The Talk episode about her December health scare, which involved her being rushed to the hospital in Santa Paula, Calif., following a mysterious medical emergency.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 4 Jan. 2023
Biden’s central message was the ‘ULTRA MAGA’ scare.
—Alex Leary, WSJ, 7 Nov. 2022
In an alternate timeline, Timberlake could’ve delivered this poetic line and possibly have done this dance that doubles as a jump scare (instead of a different cringey one).
—Vulture, 31 Oct. 2022
On Saturday, senior quarterback William Watson put on a show to give St. John’s College High School (Md.) a scare in a 41-24 loss, delivering a statement that the defending D1 state champs can play with anyone in the country.
—Nate Weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2022
One year ago, Samford gave another SEC East team a scare, leading Florida 42-28 in the first half before the Gators rallied for a 70-52 win.
—Charles Odum, ajc, 10 Sep. 2022
In the wake of the NFL player's health scare, a GoFundMe benefitting Hamlin's charity has received more than $3.5 million in donations.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2023
Managed through unusual events (e.g., a pregnancy scare) to keep relationship operating to standard.
—Bryn Durgin, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2023
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scare.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English skerren, from Old Norse skirra, from skjarr shy, timid
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun
circa 1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of scare was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing scare
Dictionary Entries Near scare
Cite this Entry
“Scare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scare. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.
More from Merriam-Webster on scare
Nglish: Translation of scare for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of scare for Arabic Speakers
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