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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in frightened
to strike with fear
thunderstorms have always scared her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scared
J.m. Banks
march 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
According to Jordan, no matter their immigration status or criminal record, community members are scared.
—Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Andy Browne, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
As a student playwright, David Lindsay-Abaire was once tasked with writing a script about the thing that scared him most.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scared
Adjective
Not to be scared to enter doors that maybe weren’t made for you.
—J.m. Banks
march 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
According to Jordan, no matter their immigration status or criminal record, community members are scared.
—Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
After all, the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre only scared away investors from China for a few years; opportunities to make money in Deng Xiaoping’s market economy soon lured them back.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
As a student playwright, David Lindsay-Abaire was once tasked with writing a script about the thing that scared him most.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scared
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scared
Adjective
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All your really doing is physically hurting your child–which might lead them to feel angry, afraid, or betrayed.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Over its eight-year run, ABC’s The Rookie has never been afraid to color outside the lines of the network TV cop show format.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That habit didn’t endear the Alspaws to anyone nearby, including one neighbor who threatened to shoot Brittany after the Alspaws frightened his horses.—
Tessa Stuart,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
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Konstantin, 4, a sociable boy, is often frightened by loud noises and guards, his parents said.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Some expats echo the confidence; others are terrified, sleeping in cars in garages, and scanning for the nearest exits.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Mrie’s angry and terrified family shunned her.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors allege Joshua Alvarado, 30, passed out at the wheel of his pickup truck while driving to work and was startled awake by other drivers honking at him.—
Katie Houlis,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
In the early hours of Sunday morning, as a bar in a busy nightlife district of Austin, Texas, prepared to close for the night, patrons and staff were startled by the sound of gunshots.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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And the posts do tend to trigger horrified reactions from other TikTok users.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The partygoers don’t really know how to react until Stab interrupts the performance to choke Kid out, and then everyone becomes horrified.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Though these examples might sound harmlessly silly (or weirdly specific), relationship therapists aren’t shocked.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Even Jordan looked shocked as the audience rose to its feet and Viola Davis, the award's presenter, celebrated.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And some of them were very fearful.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Mar. 2026
-
That and the ensuing wave of arrests have made many fearful of taking to the streets again.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scared. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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