as in afraid
filled with fear or dread
at the sight of the grizzly bear he froze, being too scared to even run away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in frightened
to strike with fear
thunderstorms have always scared her
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 scared
Rebecca Grant
june 24, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025
Make audacious asks Most people are too scared to reach out to industry leaders or dream clients.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Remember, this animal is likely scared too. Do not move toward the shark.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
The story itself is stripped to bone and sinew: a sleepy New England beach town that wants tourist dollars more than truth, an invisible killer in plain water, and three men — one scared sheriff, one cocky scientist, one Ahab of a fisherman — set adrift to settle nature’s score.
—Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for scared
Adjective
There were a lot of misconceptions, doubts, and myths swimming under the thick sheet of silence, and women were often scared of the procedures and envisioned worst-case scenarios.
—Rebecca Grant
june 24, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025
Make audacious asks Most people are too scared to reach out to industry leaders or dream clients.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Remember, this animal is likely scared too. Do not move toward the shark.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
The story itself is stripped to bone and sinew: a sleepy New England beach town that wants tourist dollars more than truth, an invisible killer in plain water, and three men — one scared sheriff, one cocky scientist, one Ahab of a fisherman — set adrift to settle nature’s score.
—Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for scared
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scared
Adjective
-
Don’t be afraid to dig deep as this transit sparks your interest in exploring your emotional and creative longings, whether that means tackling personal projects or revisiting childhood passions.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
28 June 2025
-
Sydney Sweeney was not afraid to pull punches when playing real-life Christy Martin in the upcoming biopic about the boxer, which wrapped production last November.—
Rance Collins,
IndieWire,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
Audience noises at the NRG Stadium in Houston went from frightened gasps to applause as the descent was completed.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
29 June 2025
-
Things were hectic in the mall, Stain, 45, said, with lots of frightened people running to the exits.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
The movie sees the revival of arch-villain Feathers McGraw, who terrified kids in 1993’s The Wrong Trousers.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
23 Dec. 2024
-
My Hugo would chase it and bark at it, or he'd be terrified.—
Benedict Cosgrove,
Newsweek,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The season 26 veto meeting when Tucker chooses not to save himself and instead saves a shocked Angela.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
5 July 2025
-
The reason people are so shocked about all this is not many 'Christians' and even 'pastors' actually believe the Bible.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
The restaurant industry — which has long maintained a status quo of hiring immigrants — is finding creative solutions to support fearful staff.—
Karla Marie Sanford,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2025
-
In Jewish Insider, Gabby Deutsch talks to the Democrats who are fearful about what the Mamdani win means.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Just like Netanyahu manufactured this war to destroy diplomacy, the world should be highly alarmed about increasing attempts by the failing Israeli regime to get others to bail it out and to expand the flames to the region and beyond.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 June 2025
-
And when the internet bloomed, people grew alarmed that easy access to information would erode our capacity for concentration and contemplation.—
Robert B. Tucker,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scared. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share