Synonyms of scary

scary

adjective

ˈsker-ē 

1

as in terrifying

causing fear

a scary movie that gave the child nightmares for weeks afterwards

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terrifying
• frightening
• formidable
• horrible
• terrible
• intimidating
• alarming
• fearful
• dread
• shocking
• horrifying
• creepy
• eerie
• startling
• dreadful
• frightful
• gruesome
• ghastly
• fearsome
• troubling
• disturbing
• horrendous
• dire
• forbidding
• trying
• spine-chilling
• threatening
• hair-raising
• unnerving
• daunting
• direful
• redoubtable
• discouraging
• weird
• disconcerting
• disquieting
• demoralizing
• hideous
• perturbing
• distressing
• dismaying
• nightmarish
• awful
• grisly
• macabre
• appalling
• horrid
• monstrous
• bone-chilling
• atrocious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• comforting
• relaxing
• soothing
• calming
• inviting
• tranquilizing
• consoling
• nonthreatening
• quieting
• lulling
• pacifying
• nonintimidating

2

as in timid

easily frightened

a scary horse who spooked and kicked at its own shadow

Synonyms & Similar Words

• timid
• fearful
• shy
• scared
• terrified
• afraid
• timorous
• fearsome
• fainthearted
• mousy
• tremulous
• yellow
• panicked
• skittish
• startled
• spooky
• cowardly
• dastardly
• apprehensive
• unheroic
• pusillanimous
• craven
• gutless
• anxious
• nervous
• jumpy
• spooked
• alarmed
• panicky
• jittery
• horrified
• chicken
• spineless
• shocked
• chickenhearted
• unnerved
• milk-livered
• lily-livered
• chicken-livered
• poltroon
• terrorized
• panic-stricken

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• daring
• adventurous
• bold
• brave
• audacious
• courageous
• fearless
• hardy
• gutsy
• heroic
• confident
• venturesome
• dauntless
• dashing
• valiant
• intrepid
• undaunted
• stout
• gallant
• adventuresome
• stalwart
• venturous
• valorous
• assured
• unflinching
• determined
• firm
• game
• resolute
• greathearted
• plucky
• undeterred
• spirited
• stouthearted
• lionhearted
• spunky
• doughty
• unswerving
• self-assured
• self-confident
• mettlesome

3

as in scared

filled with fear or dread

I got a little scary when I heard the noise in the basement

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scared
• afraid
• frightened
• terrified
• horrified
• fearful
• shocked
• alarmed
• worried
• spooked
• aghast
• hysterical
• upset
• startled
• nervous
• panicked
• affrighted
• terrorized
• anxious
• apprehensive
• timid
• horror-struck
• appalled
• panicky
• disturbed
• fearsome
• timorous
• phobic
• shrinking
• fainthearted
• jumpy
• funky
• perturbed
• uneasy
• cautious
• tremulous
• agitated
• wary
• jittery
• disquieted
• shy
• careful
• intimidated
• disconcerted
• daunted
• coward
• panic-stricken
• unnerved
• chicken
• cowardly
• skittish
• dismayed
• cowed
• pusillanimous
• craven
• gutless
• unadventurous
• tremulant
• prudent
• heedful
• lily-livered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fearless
• unafraid
• daring
• adventurous
• bold
• brave
• audacious
• spirited
• courageous
• gutsy
• spunky
• heroic
• plucky
• venturesome
• sure
• daredevil
• cool
• hardy
• dashing
• confident
• intrepid
• valiant
• stout
• adventuresome
• collected
• gallant
• composed
• venturous
• stalwart
• valorous
• sanguine
• unperturbed
• assured
• dauntless
• undaunted
• resolute
• stouthearted
• manful
• lionhearted

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of scary

That scary development put a pause to his on-ice development but, in a way, accelerated his off-ice development. — Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 30 July 2026

According to advance coverage, the performance underscores the special’s message that asking for and offering help can make daunting situations feel a little less scary. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 30 July 2026

There have been plenty of grim, scary episodes of Star Trek over the years, but is this the grimmest and scariest? — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 30 July 2026

Would the scary girls with fairy wings still be hanging around a trust-fund junkie with a tank of nitrous? — Claire Howorth, Vanity Fair, 29 July 2026