scare 1 of 2

verb

ˈsker How to pronounce scare (audio)
Definition of scarenext
as in to frighten
to strike with fear thunderstorms have always scared her

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scare

2 of 2

noun

as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger fired over their heads in order to throw a scare into them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of scare
Verb
Donor turnout hit by heat, health scares The only time the Red Cross previously declared a national blood crisis was in January 2022. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 29 July 2026 Why North Carolina should scare TCU Even before the advent of the transfer portal, the first game of a college football regular season has always had the predictability of a teenager. — Mac Engel july 28, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026
Noun
Touching on different tones is a great way to keep viewers discombobulated and primed for a scare. — William Earl, Variety, 27 July 2026 Anthony Joshua escaped a scare against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for scare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scare
  1. frighten
  2. fear
  3. terrify
  4. anxiety
  5. startle
  6. panic
Verb
  • Taylor contends the company welcomes more FDA scrutiny, and cautions against letting the outbreak frighten consumers away from eating fresh fruits and vegetables.
    — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Studios that let a government inquiry frighten them into caution are not managing risk.
    — Christopher Racster, IndieWire, 23 July 2026
Definition of frighten
Noun
  • However, analyst Gavin Parsons highlighted that an acceleration in organic revenue growth would settle market fears.
    — Assiatou Hann, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Herzog raised fears that the mayor’s rhetoric stokes hate against Jews, including in New York City, which holds the largest Jewish population of any city in the United States.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of fear
Verb
  • Selling meant losing all of that in one signature, and some deep, unspoken part of her was terrified of what came next.
    — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • In a case like the Davis stabbings that terrified a community, there might have been a public outcry if former Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig hadn’t charged Dominguez with murder, Reichel said.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of terrify
Noun
  • The headlines often focus on uber-selective colleges and universities, the lengths students and parents will go to access them, and the parts of the process of applying that evoke the most anxiety.
    — Brennan Barnard, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • One of the most dreadful packing pain points is the anxiety of whether everything will actually fit in your suitcase, which, thankfully, my Away Bigger Carry-on has eliminated.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of anxiety
Verb
  • Witness Hoon Chan Sim, 53, was sitting on a park lawn with his dog near West Drive when he was startled by the squeal of braking tires, and spun around to see the horrific collision.
    — Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026
  • Wildlife experts say black bears are strong climbers and may scale trees, utility poles or other tall structures when startled by people, traffic or dogs.
    — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of startle
Noun
  • Additionally, this language can quickly turn curiosity into accusation while urgency escalates into panic.
    — Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Signing Wissa for double their original bid smacked of panic.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of panic

Phrases Containing scare

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scarcity
scare
scared
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Cite this Entry

“Scare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scare. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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