as in frightening
to strike with fear
thunderstorms have always scared her
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Recent Examples of scaring
The growing conflict is also drawing concern on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula, scaring away carriers that had sought to make a more regular return to the Suez Canal.
—
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Mar. 2026
Guadalajara will be hosting matches this summer, in what’s expected to be an economic boon for the state of Jalisco, and Sheinbaum will no doubt be wary of scaring off would-be tourists.
—Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
According to Bloomberg, analysts are already antsy about increasing prices scaring away customers, particularly as the cost of living continues to rise.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 5 Feb. 2026
Most of that money would go to compensate ranchers for cattle eaten by wolves and for guard dogs, scaring devices or other means to keep them away from livestock.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
How to tell her about this terrible event without scaring her?
—Jessica Tzikas, Sun Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
California’s declines can be more properties for sale, nudging sellers to compete on price, and a wobbly economy scaring off some potential buyers.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
But that argument risks perpetuating a bloody dictatorship and scaring off foreign investors.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
After scaring off the animal, one of the hikers, a physician, attempted to revive Kovatch, but did not find a pulse.
—Outside, 6 Jan. 2026
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Mar. 2026
Guadalajara will be hosting matches this summer, in what’s expected to be an economic boon for the state of Jalisco, and Sheinbaum will no doubt be wary of scaring off would-be tourists.
—Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
According to Bloomberg, analysts are already antsy about increasing prices scaring away customers, particularly as the cost of living continues to rise.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 5 Feb. 2026
Most of that money would go to compensate ranchers for cattle eaten by wolves and for guard dogs, scaring devices or other means to keep them away from livestock.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
How to tell her about this terrible event without scaring her?
—Jessica Tzikas, Sun Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
California’s declines can be more properties for sale, nudging sellers to compete on price, and a wobbly economy scaring off some potential buyers.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
But that argument risks perpetuating a bloody dictatorship and scaring off foreign investors.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
After scaring off the animal, one of the hikers, a physician, attempted to revive Kovatch, but did not find a pulse.
—Outside, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scaring
Verb
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Clumsiness notwithstanding, bringing a criminal case against a journalist who was reporting on a protest is an authoritarian tactic—a means of frightening the press away from uncovering the truth.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
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But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One 27-year-old Tehran resident said a strike fell a few hundred yards away from her house, terrifying her with the explosion.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
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Like the strung-up coyotes, the Ghoul typically looks normal from afar but terrifying up close.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Trump is also expected to decry the Supreme Court ruling against his signature tariff policies and talk about his attempts to maneuver around that decision without depending on Congress or spooking financial markets.—
Will Weissert,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
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The president is also expected to decry the Supreme Court ruling against his signature tariff policies and talk about his attempts to maneuver around that decision without depending on Congress or spooking financial markets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hauge called that startling, given that court filing fees alone cost just as much.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
4 Jan. 2026
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Saturday, startling his sister.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
7 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scaring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scaring. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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