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

Every celebrity — no matter how small — had at least one stalker or someone obsessed with them, and no fan was creepier or scarier than the ones obsessed with child stars. —Lizz Schumer, People.com, 14 May 2025

Here’s a scary scenario: You’ve been put in charge of air traffic control at Newark airport near New York. —Steve Nadis, Quanta Magazine, 12 May 2025

The first daughter and her husband Jared Kushner were leaving Carbone Beach, one of the Formula One weekend’s fanciest parties, when things took a scary turn. —Madeleine Marr, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2025

Listen to this article 2 min There was a scary moment in a National Women's Soccer League game on Friday night after a player was hospitalized after an on-field incident. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 10 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