as in to frighten
to strike with fear
thunderstorms have always scared her
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of scare
Mason Leath, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2026
The hikers scared the lion away by throwing rocks and then attended to the adult woman, the release said.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 2 Jan. 2026
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
Fortunately for that scare actor, flight, not flight, kicked in for Jones’ 300 pounds of NFL muscle.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scare
Verb
If lions are spotted, make noise to scare them from the area, hold objects overhead to appear bigger and start backing away from the animal.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2026
The hikers scared the lion away by throwing rocks and then attended to the adult woman, the release said.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 2 Jan. 2026
Noun
Stine keeps his scares fantastical.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
Fortunately for that scare actor, flight, not flight, kicked in for Jones’ 300 pounds of NFL muscle.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scare
Verb
-
These political executions are a callous attempt by the authorities to frighten and silence an increasingly restive population no longer willing to accept their corrupt and oppressive rule.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Tens of millions of dollars have been spent to redefine reality and to convince our neighbors that this new age is something that should frighten them.—
TIME Video,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
A lot of people get drawn into the fear, distracted by the thoughts in their head.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Many immigrant customers haven’t returned, while five of his former employees, despite having working papers, left Charlotte permanently out of fear.—
Liz Rothaus Bertrand,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Hodges managed to hang on to his baton but then found himself on all fours, surrounded by the mob, terrified that he would soon be torn apart.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
-
At another level, there does seem to be something absurd and even terrifying about the idea that someone who is not elected can become the leader of a country and then will be recognized as the leader of that country and receive the immunities afforded to heads of state.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The attendees—thirty- and forty-somethings who are members of the bank’s Private Wealth Management (PWM) division, which boasts an average account size of over $75 million—gathered to hash out their anxiety and excitement.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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Barton will have to wait another month to receive his sentence for the six guilty counts the jury returned on charges of sending a grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety to football broadcasters Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, and TV and radio host Jeremy Vine.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Jamie, the dog-sitter, is startled that Pam is back so soon.—
Allegra Goodman,
New Yorker,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Hauge called that startling, given that court filing fees alone cost just as much.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Witnesses described scenes of panic as flames spread rapidly through the basement level before engulfing the upper floor.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Kaitlin spent the first weeks of her newborn son’s life in a panic.—
Lucas Waldron,
ProPublica,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scare. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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