scary

adjective

ˈsker-ē 

scarier; scariest

1

: causing fright : alarming

a scary story

2

: easily scared : timid

3

: feeling alarm or fright : frightened

scarily

ˈsker-ə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• alarming
• dire
• direful
• dread
• dreadful
• fearful
• fearsome
• forbidding
• formidable
• frightening
• frightful
• ghastly
• hair-raising
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrifying
• intimidating
• redoubtable
• shocking
• spine-chilling
• terrible
• terrifying

Examples of scary in a Sentence

a scary movie that gave the child nightmares for weeks afterwards

a scary horse who spooked and kicked at its own shadow

Recent Examples on the Web

So their arrival in the world of the New Avengers may be a harbinger of scary things to come. —Eliana Dockterman, Time, 2 May 2025

Director Felipe Vargas’ feature debut is first rate and genuinely scary but also has higher aspirations by reminding us of the dangers of ignoring our family history and for choosing to help out the wealthy and not those in need. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 1 May 2025

The scary incident when DeJong got hit in the face caused a fractured nose. —Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025

But thanks to declining vaccination rates, Americans may have to contend with a much scarier future for the deadly disease. —Lauren Goode, Wired News, 1 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for scary

• aerie
• airy
• arie
• barre
• cherry
• clary
• dairy
• eyrie
• faerie
• faery
• fairy
• ferry

Kids Definition

scary

adjective

ˈske(ə)r-ē 

ˈska(ə)r-

scarier; scariest

1

: causing fright : alarming

a scary movie

2

: easily scared : timid

3

: feeling alarm or fright : scared, frightened

scary feeling

scarily

-ə-lē 

adverb