scare 1 of 2

verb

ˈsker How to pronounce scare (audio)
Definition of scarenext
as in to frighten
to strike with fear thunderstorms have always scared her

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scare

2 of 2

noun

as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger fired over their heads in order to throw a scare into them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scare
Verb
This would have been less than a mile from the nesting pine and might have scared the eagles away. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 The attack continued for several minutes until the man’s friends were able to scare the bear away. — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2026
Noun
Dark movie theaters, or creepy home basements, are the classic venues of choice for those who love supernatural scares. — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 26 Aug. 2026 My favorite scare must have been accomplished with the person-doubling technology from The Prestige. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scare
  1. frighten
  2. fear
  3. terrify
  4. anxiety
  5. startle
  6. panic
Verb
  • The aggressive approach deeply disrupted and frightened the participants.
    — Kimmie Gordon, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Penelope, too, is asked to occupy a landscape that frightens her, not only as a neurodivergent child in a neurotypical culture, but as a child now situated in an adult world.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of frighten
Noun
  • As families wait for news about their relatives, damaged roads, power outages and fears of further flooding have hampered rescue efforts.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The announcement is spurring fears of a fresh wave of Canadian travelers steering clear of the US.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of fear
Verb
  • Jaylen Edgar, the teenager tried for the 2024 Halloween mass shooting in downtown Orlando that killed two, injured several others and terrified thousands, was found guilty of all charges Monday.
    — Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
  • For Thomas, unpacking what went wrong goes well beyond the headless bodies, terrifying phone calls and dead ends.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of terrify
Noun
  • Common side effects include dizziness, fast heart rate, high blood pressure, anxiety, headache, insomnia and loss of appetite.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Analysts observe that market anxiety surrounding mega-cap tech companies has escalated markedly in recent weeks.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of anxiety
Verb
  • This horror movie mostly just smelled of fake fog from a community theater production and occasionally you were startled by random bursts of air, once again pulling you from the events on screen.
    — Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Of those who were injured, officials said that many were hurt while falling down or hitting themselves against furniture after being startled by the earthquake while sleeping.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of startle
Noun
  • There’s a lot of panic right now about the bumpy intersection of artificial intelligence and art-making.
    — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Unwilling to expose himself in this moment, Paul Baker juggles both of his competing personas, continuing the bro-y shouting but with a new panic in his voice and in Jack Innanen’s expressions.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of panic

Phrases Containing scare

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scarcity
scare
scared
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Cite this Entry

“Scare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scare. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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