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

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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
When you’re exposed in that way to so many different things, different things don’t scare you but actually become normal. — Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026 Just learning about each room was enough to scare the troop of Brownies. — The Learning Network, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Noun
Threats On Planes Recent weeks have seen an uptick in security scares on board commercial flights. — Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2026 Sonia of Norway is 89 years old and in recent months has had minor health scares that led to her being hospitalized for a few days in the hospital. — Nuria Hernández, Vanity Fair, 10 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scare
  1. frighten
  2. fear
  3. terrify
  4. anxiety
  5. startle
  6. fearfulness
  7. panic
Verb
  • Parents were taught to respond supportively while stepping back from rescuing their child from what frightened them.
    — Deldhy Nicolás Moya Sánchez, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The company pictured tales that might start in an Indian hamlet yet still frighten viewers in Seoul or São Paulo.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of frighten
Noun
  • Given the global deployment of US troops and the frequency of its use of force, the fear was that the ICC would make US officials and soldiers vulnerable, and would reduce its freedom of military action.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Unreleased | Getty Images A spate of bomb threats against passenger flights has forced diversions, emergency landings and military escorts across European airspace this week, stoking fear among passengers and heaping pressure on airlines.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of fear
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
Noun
  • America in 2026 is not Nazi Germany, but events from 88 years ago still overshadow the thinking and anxiety of millions of Jews.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Advertisement Even reading this suggestion to consider being more open-minded may increase your anxiety and create tension in your body.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of anxiety
Verb
  • The bill is named after Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist from India who was killed when a horse got startled and threw him from a carriage in Central Park.
    — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Doing so can startle the dog and make the barking worse, LaSala says.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of startle
Noun
  • There’s a delicacy to Sebastián, a hushed fearfulness, that sets him apart from his new comrades.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of fearfulness
Noun
  • His wife, Stacy Petit Bennett, told the outlet her husband called her in a panic as his truck became surrounded by floodwaters on San Filippo Drive.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • On Wednesday, a rush to open new accounts elsewhere crashed other banks’ mobile apps, fueling public panic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Nov. 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 13 Nov. 2026.

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