as in frightened
filled with fear or dread
Ichabod Crane was so spooked that he left Sleepy Hollow for good
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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
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Recent Examples of spooked
Rob Wile, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
You may have been spooked by the early arrival of Halloween merchandise in retail outlets, some of it around the Fourth of July.
—George Petras, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
Eagles exec Howie Roseman traded up a spot and got the defensive tackle ninth after off-field behavior spooked some teams.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
Truss's reign was defined by two events—the death of Queen Elizabeth II and a tax slashing mini-budget which spooked the financial markets—triggering a loss of confidence from her own Conservative MPs and the collapse of her administration.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Now Kiki is spooked, walks right out of the party, and basically hitchhikes a ride with some invisible truck driver.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
So far, Oracle’s valuation hasn’t spooked Wall Street, where more than 70% of analysts recommend buying the stock.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 17 Sep. 2025
Once the Dolphins burned them on a few man-to-man calls during a 2-minute drill that closed the first half, the Patriots were spooked out of man-coverage almost completely.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
In fact, fundamentals take a back seat when investors get spooked by the outlook, and even great stocks can take a beating.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
The prospect that Milei’s reforms could stall has spooked international investors, some of whom have responded by selling their holdings in Argentine pesos.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
You may have been spooked by the early arrival of Halloween merchandise in retail outlets, some of it around the Fourth of July.
—George Petras, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
Eagles exec Howie Roseman traded up a spot and got the defensive tackle ninth after off-field behavior spooked some teams.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
Truss's reign was defined by two events—the death of Queen Elizabeth II and a tax slashing mini-budget which spooked the financial markets—triggering a loss of confidence from her own Conservative MPs and the collapse of her administration.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Now Kiki is spooked, walks right out of the party, and basically hitchhikes a ride with some invisible truck driver.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
So far, Oracle’s valuation hasn’t spooked Wall Street, where more than 70% of analysts recommend buying the stock.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 17 Sep. 2025
Once the Dolphins burned them on a few man-to-man calls during a 2-minute drill that closed the first half, the Patriots were spooked out of man-coverage almost completely.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
In fact, fundamentals take a back seat when investors get spooked by the outlook, and even great stocks can take a beating.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spooked
Adjective
-
Her parents were opposed to the Russian occupation but too frightened to talk about it.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
19 Oct. 2025
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That included an incident in a press box at Yankee Stadium in 2013, when a frightened and fractured Kay had to be brought back to a team hotel, or an incident at the offices at Angel Stadium on Easter Day in 2019 when a sweating and erratic Kay was taken home and then hospitalized.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There are certainly no major factors like physical abuse during our childhood; however, our mother had some psychological problems and showed some anger and paranoia symptoms, which scared us as children and were overt enough that many in our town knew about her.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
25 Sep. 2025
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There are certainly no major factors like physical abuse during our childhood, however, our mother had some psychological problems and showed some anger and paranoia symptoms, which scared us as children and were overt enough that many in our town knew about her.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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At the same time, completely terrified and anxious.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
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In May 2023, a homeowner in Spokane, Washington, was left terrified after two large moose appeared outside their home.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Who jumped, startled, when Rey laughed nervously.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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First baseman Michael Toglia covered his head, too, and was startled when the ball landed a few feet from him.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Heat coaches and players aren’t afraid to admit it.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
20 Oct. 2025
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Some in Silicon Valley, even those developing advanced AI, are genuinely afraid of where the technology might lead.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The press has been deluged with letters from horrified subscribers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
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The horrified screams of Franklin’s children were also caught on the 911 recording.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
However, its minimal restrictions have alarmed lawyers, researchers, and public figures.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
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The actor remembered that paramedics became alarmed after checking his vital signs, and he was rushed to the nearest hospital.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The shocked look on Byrne’s face, captured in one take, is genuine.—
Matthew Jacobs,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
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Lewis and Picardo collapsed into tears, and Candy’s family was shocked.—
Makena Gera,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spooked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spooked. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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