frighten

to strike with fear around the campfire the campers tried to frighten one another with ghostly legends and grisly tales Synonyms affright, alarm (also alarum), fright, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, shock, spook, startle, terrify, terrorize Related Words appall (also appal), bowl over, dismay, floor, jolt, shake, shake up; amaze, astound, awe; chill, daunt, demoralize, dispirit, emasculate, psych (out), undo, unman, unnerve, unstring; discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distract, distress, disturb, perturb, unsettle, upset, worry Phrases give one the creeps, make one's flesh creep (or crawl) Near Antonyms assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe; embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, steel Antonyms reassure