scared 1 of 2

adjective

ˈskerd How to pronounce scared (audio)
Definition of scarednext
as in afraid
filled with fear or dread at the sight of the grizzly bear he froze, being too scared to even run away

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scared

2 of 2

verb

past tense of scare
as in frightened
to strike with fear thunderstorms have always scared her

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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
Adjective
Nick, who’s a year older than Charlie, struggles with anxiety over going away to university and is scared to be apart from Charlie. — Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 Popov claimed self-defense, with his lawyer describing him as a scared teenager afraid for his life, but the jury rejected that argument. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 16 July 2026
Verb
For a family already scared and stressed, that free access made a big difference. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026 Lendeborg being 24 when camp opens rightly scared away some of the rebuilding teams picking ahead of Golden State, especially in concert with his iffy outside shot. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for scared
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scared
  1. afraid
  2. frightened
  3. terrified
  4. startled
  5. horrified
  6. shocked
  7. fearful
Adjective
  • The kind who drive across town for the right crust and aren't afraid to wait for it.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
  • Don’t be afraid to volunteer for a responsibility that scares you a little.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Definition of afraid
Verb
  • Fig, a dog from Tulare County, disappeared after becoming frightened by fireworks and gunfire during Fourth of July celebrations, according to authorities.
    — Denis Akbari, USA Today, 22 July 2026
  • Fig, an Australian shepherd, ran away from home after getting frightened by July Fourth fireworks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
Definition of frightened
Adjective
  • The child runs back inside the bodega seeking safety before collapsing near the front counter as terrified customers scramble for cover.
    — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
  • Appropriately terrified, Russ jumps backward, shattering the window.
    — Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
Definition of terrified
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 startled
Adjective
  • In one early scene, a horrified Pam stares into her bathroom mirror, covered head to toe in blood.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026
  • The first police officer on the scene quickly ran back to the station for help, while neighbors calmed the horrified Lizzie.
    — Sophia Zhang, Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 June 2026
Definition of horrified
Adjective
  • The first season ended with a big cliffhanger, in which Cooper emerged from a cocoon after a transformation to a shocked reaction though his appearance was not revealed.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 July 2026
  • In Atlanta last week, Mohamed Salah and his Egypt team-mates walked out of the stadium in shocked silence.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of shocked
Adjective
  • Aid networks ramped up their work to help immigrants too fearful to leave their homes.
    — Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 27 July 2026
  • A couple days ago, Foerster wasn’t fired up but rather fearful of Shanahan’s fate.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 26 July 2026
Definition of fearful

Browse Nearby Words

scare
scared
scared up
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Cite this Entry

“Scared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scared. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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