1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a scary movie that gave the child nightmares for weeks afterwards
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in timid
easily frightened
a scary horse who spooked and kicked at its own shadow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in scared
filled with fear or dread
I got a little scary when I heard the noise in the basement
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scary
During the Halloween season, Saratoga Springs is the perfect destination for some underrated scary history.
—
Cat Sposato, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2025
Most roads were nothing more than unpaved, gravel tracks with steep inclines, scary drop-offs, and switchback curves.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2025
Read your credit report Credit reports are inherently scary.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Several reasons were to blame for the scary-low turnout, including a dearth of new releases as well as the misfortune of Halloween landing on a Friday, which meant families were distracted by trick-or-treating.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scary
Cat Sposato, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2025
Most roads were nothing more than unpaved, gravel tracks with steep inclines, scary drop-offs, and switchback curves.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2025
Read your credit report Credit reports are inherently scary.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Several reasons were to blame for the scary-low turnout, including a dearth of new releases as well as the misfortune of Halloween landing on a Friday, which meant families were distracted by trick-or-treating.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scary
Adjective
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Episode 3 confirms that this is no mere nod to another Stephen King classic, when the young Black soldier showcases his unique powers in a thrilling and terrifying sequence.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
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That is, until Episode 3, when the terrifying harlequin seems to finally appear from the pitch black depths of a crypt inside the Derry cemetery.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Wonkier reads, to be sure—but these both provide useful context for those looking to understand why the Democratic Party can be so timid before numbers.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
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In 2024, the Harris-Walz campaign seemed timid, participating in few press conferences and potentially adversarial interviews.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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When one teen is scared or tired of the process, the other girl is there to encourage her.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
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One of the women, one of his first girlfriends, was very scared [to be part of the series].—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Because to accept Douglas Kelley's conclusions that the capacity for the most unspeakable atrocity is latent in our own reality is shockingly quotidian and perhaps too frightening to hear; a responsibility too terrible to accept and yet too prescient to ignore.—
NPR,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
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The 3-point shooting won’t hold, but even being around the top 10 in accuracy would make this scary Rockets squad even more frightening.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
People with excellent credit are often overly fearful about closing credit cards.—
Liz Weston,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
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Analysts are fearful about what that means for its margins and earnings — and, in some cases, are lowering their outlooks for the stock.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The government hopes for rain, but people are already afraid.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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As a result, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin wasn't afraid to acknowledge just how bad things went for star quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the rest of his team as a whole.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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As the day wears on, the crowd swells to a formidable throng.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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If host Point Loma was going to stay unbeaten and advance to the Division 1 quarterfinal with a win over Mater Dei Catholic on Friday night, Pointers head coach Ryan Price was sure his formidable defense would have a major hand in it.—
Kevin J. Farmer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Nearly a week later, Scott and Kodi Allred, a couple traveling to visit their son at the University of Northern Colorado, saw the frightened black dachshund darting along the same stretch of road near Elk Mountain.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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Sometimes, a frightened reaction is inexplicable.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scary. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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