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
Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 12 May 2026
Most of their clients were too scared to speak publicly, citing fear of retaliation.
—Shoshana Walter, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026
Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2026
Police are investigating two recent home burglaries in Los Angeles in which the thieves were confronted by witnesses or scared off by home alarms.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scared
Adjective
Many in the community seemed to be scared to go about business as usual.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 12 May 2026
Most of their clients were too scared to speak publicly, citing fear of retaliation.
—Shoshana Walter, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026
Verb
No one gets sick or scared or spun around or soaking wet or brought on stage.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2026
Police are investigating two recent home burglaries in Los Angeles in which the thieves were confronted by witnesses or scared off by home alarms.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scared
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scared
Adjective
-
Contra to many prior popes, this See is not afraid to weigh in on the lopsided powers granted to the billionaire class, or an undemocratic state.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
-
This is why Kirby Smart is not afraid to talk about breaking away from the current NCAA system, if unified guidance is not attainable under the current format.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
The Lord in your convent frightened me, Jesus with his bloody palms and gaping mouth, eyes rolled back in terror.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
-
Lee Cronin was both flattered and frightened when Jason Blum suggested titling his The Mummy reimagining as Lee Cronin’s The Mummy.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Discovered on board were three terrified young Mexican women and Cochran, who had died 10 days prior.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 May 2026
-
So many clubs these days seem terrified of signing older players.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Victor turned to her, startled.—
‘Pemi Aguda,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
-
The gunfire startled sleeping guests at the Citizen Hotel, which included a wedding party and fans of the rapper Tyler the Creator, who performed at a concert hours earlier.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As his tricks progressed, the Young Man felt horrified and confused at the same time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Bowers told Vuong, who called the business and legal division while Bowers sent screeners to the horrified standards and practices department of the famously conservative broadcast network.—
Anna Peele,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Viewers were so shocked by this cold ending that many called up HBO or their cable companies to see if maybe something happened to their TVs.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
-
The teaser trailer opens with Cooke and Lindsay Hubbard giving their shocked reactions to Batula and Wilson’s public statement about their romance, which came in March after cameras stopped rolling on the 10th season, which airs its finale tonight.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Leaders everywhere were fearful of military action but still prepared for conflict in ways that almost guaranteed that, if hostilities were to break out in Europe, the Great Powers would get involved.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
-
The movie’s premise—parasocial obsession and manipulation disguised as romance—may have hit a nerve with younger audiences who are reportedly more fearful and less interested in romance.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scared. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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