psych (out)

verb

Definition of psych (out)next
as in to scare

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for psych (out)
  1. scare
  2. frighten
  3. intimidate
  4. terrorize
  5. terrify
  6. sap
  7. soften
  8. waste
Verb
  • Just learning about each room was enough to scare the troop of Brownies.
    — The Learning Network, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • His campaign strategy in the days before the election seemed to rely on scaring the Israeli public into voting for him.
    — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of scare
Verb
  • For Cox and Walker, the challenge was to introduce horror-film conventions without frightening the franchise’s youngest viewers.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Guitarricadelafuente said he was initially frightened by the prospect of acting in La Bola Negra.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of frighten
Verb
  • Politicians could no longer rely on local patrons to intimidate people into voting for them and had to compete on representing their interests.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Drivers who intimidate on purpose are surprisingly plentiful.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of intimidate
Verb
  • There was relative stability in Deir Jarir, a town of some 6,000 northeast of Ramallah, residents say, before extremist neighbors moved in and began descending weekly to terrorize the community below, with near-total impunity.
    — Suheir Hashimeh, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2026
  • However, when a serial killer (Stephen Graham) terrorizes the town and Jonah’s family from the depths of a psychiatric hospital, his quiet life in the suburbs quickly turns into a nightmare.
    — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of terrorize
Verb
  • If the thought of having your email inbox leaked to the world doesn’t terrify you, better check that pulse.
    — Stephanie Barnes, PC Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The simple act of a child pedaling down empty hotel hallways on a Big Wheel builds anticipation, terrifying us with what may be around each corner.
    — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of terrify
Verb
  • Fortune recently reported on wealthy parents’ growing fear that their fortunes will sap their children’s drive.
    — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In the last quarter-century, relentless drought intensified by climate change has sapped the river’s flow and left its reservoirs severely depleted.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of sap
Verb
  • Unlike a traditional body lotion, the moisturizer’s lightweight, milky texture softens skin, smooths rough patches, and relieves dryness sans the greasy film.
    — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The reality is that this effect was a deliberate design choice to soften the edges of the villa and smooth out its different volumes.
    — Francesca Longoni, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of soften
Verb
  • In Southern California and across the country, Halloween costume swaps and thrift stores are keeping costumes from going to waste.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The city of Milwaukee waited 46 years to see its team in the Fall Classic, and this year's Brewers wanted to stop wasting time.
    — Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of waste
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.

Browse Nearby Words

psychotic
psych (out)
psychs (out)
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Cite this Entry

“Psych (out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/psych%20%28out%29. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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