as in scaring
to strike with fear
the sudden noise spooked her out of her skin
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Recent Examples of spooking
Soon, representatives of the security services began spooking entrepreneurs with public attacks, interrogations, and arrests.
—
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
And importantly, the SPV marketplace allows for company insiders—including their billionaire founders—to cash out secretly without spooking the market.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Use line in the two- to four-pound class to avoid spooking extremely wary fish and to permit the minnows swimming freedom.
—John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
Many other businesses considered similar moves, spooking the state's lawmakers, as Delaware, despite being a heavily Democratic state, has long been viewed as a haven for business.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Energy policy vacillation in the US is spooking investors and leaving the country less prepared to compete in the global economy.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Trump is also expected to decry the Supreme Court ruling against his signature tariff policies and talk about his attempts to maneuver around that decision without depending on Congress or spooking financial markets.
—Will Weissert, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
The president is also expected to decry the Supreme Court ruling against his signature tariff policies and talk about his attempts to maneuver around that decision without depending on Congress or spooking financial markets.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Penn’s presence became a form of soft validation for a project that was already spooking investors, undermining private industry through expropriations, and hollowing out checks and balances.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
And importantly, the SPV marketplace allows for company insiders—including their billionaire founders—to cash out secretly without spooking the market.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Use line in the two- to four-pound class to avoid spooking extremely wary fish and to permit the minnows swimming freedom.
—John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
Many other businesses considered similar moves, spooking the state's lawmakers, as Delaware, despite being a heavily Democratic state, has long been viewed as a haven for business.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Energy policy vacillation in the US is spooking investors and leaving the country less prepared to compete in the global economy.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Trump is also expected to decry the Supreme Court ruling against his signature tariff policies and talk about his attempts to maneuver around that decision without depending on Congress or spooking financial markets.
—Will Weissert, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
The president is also expected to decry the Supreme Court ruling against his signature tariff policies and talk about his attempts to maneuver around that decision without depending on Congress or spooking financial markets.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Penn’s presence became a form of soft validation for a project that was already spooking investors, undermining private industry through expropriations, and hollowing out checks and balances.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spooking
Verb
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That combination—higher costs, fewer flights, and steady demand—has given airlines more room to raise fares without scaring off travelers.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
13 May 2026
-
Schwarzenegger’s strategy energized Californians who wanted to punish incumbent Democrats, but avoided scaring too many of the state’s median voters.—
Conor Friedersdorf,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
Verb
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This war has been a disaster for them, frightening away foreign investors, tourists and talent and burdening them with a future of huge new defense bills to deter Iran after the United States is gone.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
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Clumsiness notwithstanding, bringing a criminal case against a journalist who was reporting on a protest is an authoritarian tactic—a means of frightening the press away from uncovering the truth.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is breathtaking and also terrifying with a 4-year-old along.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
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Facing the endless Cylon onslaught in the void of space is terrifying even in 2D battles, but many of Scattered Hopes' gut punches happen during unexpected narrative events or tough choices that doom entire ship populations.—
Ian Stokes,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spooking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spooking. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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