scared

1 of 2

adjective

ˈskerd 

: thrown into or being in a state of fear, fright, or panic

scared of snakes

scared to go out

scared

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of scare entry 1

Synonyms of scared

Adjective

• afraid
• frightened
• terrified
• horrified
• shocked
• fearful

Examples of scared in a Sentence

Adjective

I am really scared about speaking in front of the class.

He was scared that his mother wouldn't let him go to the movies with his friends.

She's scared to walk alone at night.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

One dog, Bruce, whose neck was slashed by his owner, spent seven months at the shelter as investigators sought charges, trembling in his kennel and looking scared, according to visitors. — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

Was that an intentional move to make the Traitors scared to pick her? — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2026

Agents working with lower-risk candidates may simply be fellow migrants who speak Thai and can help confused and scared people navigate a complex bureaucracy. — Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026

My parents were tense and distracted while my siblings were scared. — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1579, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing scared

• get scared
• scared/frightened the dickens
• scared stiff
• scared to death

Rhymes for scared

• compared
• declared
• despaired
• ensnared
• impaired
• prepared
• repaired
• unpaired
• unshared
• aired
• bared
• blared