as in frightened
filled with fear or dread
Ichabod Crane was so spooked that he left Sleepy Hollow for good
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scared
to strike with fear
the sudden noise spooked her out of her skin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of spooked
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 Dec. 2024
The points deductions given to Everton and Nottingham Forest last season seem to have also spooked clubs into being extra cautious around PSR.
—Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Some comments under the video show viewers spooked by the scene, weighing in on whether the leg movement was a result of some kind of paranormal intervention or not.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
This post was originally published on December 20 Bitcoin has fallen sharply, dropping along with stock markets after the Federal Reserve warned inflation remained sticky and BlackRock spooked the market.
—Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Bitcoin has fallen sharply, dropping along with stock markets after the Federal Reserve warned inflation remained sticky and BlackRock spooked the market.
—Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
But he’s also promised to shake up the country’s food and drug industries, promoting healthy lifestyles and disrupting corporate forces driving obesity, addiction and other illnesses — a platform that has broad political appeal but has spooked markets.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 20 Dec. 2024
Centrist politicians across Europe have toughened their migration policies in recent months, spooked by the electoral success of charismatic right-wing and anti-migrant leaders.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
But the deer had spooked (likely from the sound of the ATV, Laleman thinks).
—Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
Thus, there’s little sense in getting spooked in the pre-Christmas months; when ad rates are negligible, the cost of doling out any necessary audience deficiency units isn’t exactly going to break the bank.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 Dec. 2024
The points deductions given to Everton and Nottingham Forest last season seem to have also spooked clubs into being extra cautious around PSR.
—Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Some comments under the video show viewers spooked by the scene, weighing in on whether the leg movement was a result of some kind of paranormal intervention or not.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
This post was originally published on December 20 Bitcoin has fallen sharply, dropping along with stock markets after the Federal Reserve warned inflation remained sticky and BlackRock spooked the market.
—Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Bitcoin has fallen sharply, dropping along with stock markets after the Federal Reserve warned inflation remained sticky and BlackRock spooked the market.
—Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
But he’s also promised to shake up the country’s food and drug industries, promoting healthy lifestyles and disrupting corporate forces driving obesity, addiction and other illnesses — a platform that has broad political appeal but has spooked markets.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 20 Dec. 2024
Centrist politicians across Europe have toughened their migration policies in recent months, spooked by the electoral success of charismatic right-wing and anti-migrant leaders.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
But the deer had spooked (likely from the sound of the ATV, Laleman thinks).
—Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 4 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spooked
Adjective
-
Investigators believe other potential victims may be too frightened to report similar attacks.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
20 Aug. 2025
-
School staff gathered the students in the cafeteria during the lockdown and tried to keep the frightened kids calm, said a school employee who refused to give an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter their name.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
When scared, dogs will likely make their body smaller, hunch over and try to move away.—
Dawn Kovell,
Mercury News,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Things were changing, and people—some people at least—were scared.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The movie sees the revival of arch-villain Feathers McGraw, who terrified kids in 1993’s The Wrong Trousers.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
23 Dec. 2024
-
My Hugo would chase it and bark at it, or he'd be terrified.—
Benedict Cosgrove,
Newsweek,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Those were people who grew up afraid of anything or anyone different from them.—
Pat Blashill,
Rolling Stone,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Lastly, if the campaign performance isn’t meeting expectations, don’t be afraid to ask for a brainstorming session in person or on video if email communication just isn’t cutting it.—
Nandini Sankara,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
So, when President Trump recently declared that only English was to be the official language of the U.S., many Indigenous language advocates became alarmed.—
Frank Vaisvilas,
jsonline.com,
11 Aug. 2025
-
The trailer ends with the first footage of Nuñez back in character as Oscar, looking alarmed to see the cameras at his workplace.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Audience members were shocked when winner Rachel Frederickson went from 260 pounds to 105, appearing on stage drastically thinner and somewhat unhealthy.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Belly’s feelings for Conrad bubble up during her bachelorette party, and Conrad's shocked to learn that Jeremiah cheated on her.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spooked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spooked. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
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