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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of spooked
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Some guys, even transfers, get in their first game in this environment and then play a little spooked.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 13 Feb. 2026
Higher tariffs have driven up the prices of construction materials and equipment, while the crackdown on undocumented workers has thinned and spooked much of the international workforce on which the housing industry depends.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
But investors were spooked and dumped shares in legal and financial software and services companies.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The new model’s research and analysis abilities are likely what spooked financial services investors on Friday.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
In the mid-1990s, when Catherine O’Hara flew into Lockhart, Texas, to begin shooting the indie mockumentary Waiting for Guffman, she felt spooked.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
After a strong recovery from the pandemic, investors were spooked by the launch of Epic Universe in Orlando.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Lake County notice Last year, Antioch-area residents were spooked by letters from Kinder Morgan notifying them about the project that included a reference to eminent domain.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
The midterms are coming, and older women voters are spooked about the economy.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Some guys, even transfers, get in their first game in this environment and then play a little spooked.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 13 Feb. 2026
Higher tariffs have driven up the prices of construction materials and equipment, while the crackdown on undocumented workers has thinned and spooked much of the international workforce on which the housing industry depends.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
But investors were spooked and dumped shares in legal and financial software and services companies.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The new model’s research and analysis abilities are likely what spooked financial services investors on Friday.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
In the mid-1990s, when Catherine O’Hara flew into Lockhart, Texas, to begin shooting the indie mockumentary Waiting for Guffman, she felt spooked.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
After a strong recovery from the pandemic, investors were spooked by the launch of Epic Universe in Orlando.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Lake County notice Last year, Antioch-area residents were spooked by letters from Kinder Morgan notifying them about the project that included a reference to eminent domain.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spooked
Adjective
-
While protesters may be frightened and grieving after last month's bloodbath, they're not mollified.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Inside the bathysphere of the novel, readers make contact with a darkness that our frightened minds might otherwise reject.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Everyone sees what’s happening, but everyone’s scared to talk.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
After all, the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre only scared away investors from China for a few years; opportunities to make money in Deng Xiaoping’s market economy soon lured them back.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Rightly disappointed, Warren wasn’t entirely terrified.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
-
There is a 9-year-old girl sitting terrified and tearful and blaming herself for wanting to see Disney.—
Heidi Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
My cat was startled by a loud noise from outside and ran across the apartment with the needle in her mouth.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Twyla Tharp’s ballet Push Comes to Shove, which premiered in 1976, startled and delighted audiences with its coy, self-referential humor, and its flirtation with popular dance styles such as jazz and tango.—
Sara Krolewski,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Don’t be afraid to wear these shoes to the fullest.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Thank you for your attempt at helping in the noble cause of mannerliness, but Miss Manners is afraid that your suggestion represents the problem, not the solution.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The partygoers don’t really know how to react until Stab interrupts the performance to choke Kid out, and then everyone becomes horrified.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
-
You’re just horrified at what those kinds of impacts have.—
Andrew Dampf,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The experiment ended early because the researchers became alarmed by how fast previously ordinary people devolved into violence when shielded from accountability.—
William Robiner,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
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So don’t be alarmed because this is Mother Nature’s master plan in action.—
Jill Schildhouse,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Tuesday morning’s news came without warning to members of the MLBPA, leaving them shocked.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Homan looked shocked and denied the allegation.—
Julia Frankel,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spooked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spooked. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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