as in frightened
filled with fear or dread
Ichabod Crane was so spooked that he left Sleepy Hollow for good
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scared
to strike with fear
the sudden noise spooked her out of her skin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spooked
Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
The wildlife never showed because the talking spooked everything.
—Barbara Baird, Outdoor Life, 7 Jan. 2026
However, the crypto market struggled at the end of the year as recent sell-offs spooked some investors.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
September While Jimmy Kimmel was briefly taken off air by ABC in a real-world, dismay-inducing free speech row, the business was equally spooked by an artificial intelligence creation.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
In addition, surging lease obligations have spooked Wall Street.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Dec. 2025
That said, investors could have just been jittery amid the narrative of an apparent AI bubble, and were spooked by any sign of bad news.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025
But the tariffs spooked American businesses, prompting a court challenge, contending that the president had exceeded his authority in imposing the tariffs.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
Guzel allegedly had planned to travel in two weeks to Turkey and onward to Syria from there, but it's believed he got spooked after last week's arrests and moved his flight up, sources said.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
The suspect got spooked by the resident and fled.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
The wildlife never showed because the talking spooked everything.
—Barbara Baird, Outdoor Life, 7 Jan. 2026
However, the crypto market struggled at the end of the year as recent sell-offs spooked some investors.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
September While Jimmy Kimmel was briefly taken off air by ABC in a real-world, dismay-inducing free speech row, the business was equally spooked by an artificial intelligence creation.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
In addition, surging lease obligations have spooked Wall Street.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Dec. 2025
That said, investors could have just been jittery amid the narrative of an apparent AI bubble, and were spooked by any sign of bad news.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025
But the tariffs spooked American businesses, prompting a court challenge, contending that the president had exceeded his authority in imposing the tariffs.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
Guzel allegedly had planned to travel in two weeks to Turkey and onward to Syria from there, but it's believed he got spooked after last week's arrests and moved his flight up, sources said.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spooked
Adjective
-
The article quotes two current professors but doesn’t explore why other faculty members critical of the school were too frightened to speak on the record in what Corcoran described as a campus finally open to different opinions.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Freedom from fear mattered because frightened societies are easily manipulated.—
Philip Martin,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
What really scared me was telling my audience.—
SELF Staff,
SELF,
9 Jan. 2026
-
That caption scared me for a minute.—
Stacy Lambe,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But there’s plenty of agonized screaming, as well as lots of closeups of terrified faces.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
-
As Arnoldo’s undocumented father, Arnulfo Bazan Carrillo, drove off, the terrified teenager began filming on his phone.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Authorities in southern Colorado are investigating after a sudden explosion damaged a building and startled nearby residents.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Leibfried was responding to a report of a domestic disturbance in the building and was startled by a loud bang that emanated from the closed door of an apartment.—
Peter Passi,
Twin Cities,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Hilary Duff isn't afraid to lean into nostalgia.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
20 Jan. 2026
-
To create a fresh look, Lynch says not to be afraid to mix and match patterns and colors.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In witness footage shared by the police, the paraglider is seen falling from the sky with a faulty parachute and spiraling quickly towards the waters below, before smashing into the ocean in front of horrified beachgoers.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
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Yang plays Kieran Culkin’s stand-in, his arms nightmarishly chainsawed off as Ashley Padilla’s Catherine O’Hara equivalent lets out a series of horrified shrieks.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Store employees became alarmed after Vandenberg repeatedly spoke about throwing fireworks at police and asked whether the store was going to track him, prompting them to record his license plate and contact law enforcement.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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Given the less-than-one-half-inch insect’s track record of devastating oaks since being first detected in San Diego County in 2008, scientists and land stewards are alarmed — and working to contain the outbreak.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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At the time, a second insider added that the entire room was so shocked that Anthony, 57, called Victoria's name over Nicola's that a silence followed.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
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In the bawdy comedic scene, Tommy wakes up au natural in his hotel bed after an amorous evening with his wife, Angela Norris (Ali Larter), to find a shocked housekeeper in the hotel room.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spooked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spooked. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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