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scarier; scariest
1
: causing fright : alarming
a scary story
2
: easily scared : timid
3
: feeling alarm or fright : frightened
scarily adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kravitz said Lenny Kravitz had a scary encounter with a fan at his latest concert. Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025 The contestant from Jamaica, Gabrielle Henry, took a scary tumble during the evening gown round at Wednesday’s preliminaries and was carried away in a stretcher, according to social media videos which circulated of her fall. Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025 Thanks to syndication and, after 1956, an annual airing on CBS, Hamilton’s Wicked Witch produced a long-lasting impression that painted witches as sinister scary figures dashing through the sky astride brooms. Time, 21 Nov. 2025 Big Time Rush singer Logan Henderson is on the mend after a scary incident on stage sent him to the hospital. Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scary

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scary was in 1582

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scary. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

scary

adjective
ˈske(ə)r-ē How to pronounce scary (audio)
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 adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on scary

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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