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

Relevance

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
By that time, the gator had released the woman, who was holding onto a paddleboard, and got scared off by the approaching boat. — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026 Because their candidates just didn’t appeal to enough voters and scared a lot of voters. — NBC news, 9 Aug. 2026
Noun
New York got a scare in the third when Ionescu left the game. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 The team avoided an Ionescu injury scare along with getting the win. — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 14 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
  • Diego Gomez is a stop-gap alternative, but Mitoma remains a key figure who frightens opposing defences with his dribbling speed and influential record in the top flight.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • But what frightened me most was not death alone, but the idea of dying before my writings reached the world—that my story would disappear with me, and that my feelings, my memories, my identity, and my human experience would be erased.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of frighten
Noun
  • The quake initially triggered fears of a tsunami, and a warning from Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, issuing alerts to stay away from beaches and calls for people to evacuate.
    — Jason Volack, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Jacobita Cortes, a United Methodist pastor in Chicago, said that fear has changed the rhythms of her community.
    — Maria Santana, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of fear
Verb
  • For Thomas, unpacking what went wrong goes well beyond the headless bodies, terrifying phone calls and dead ends.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Jurors in 2025 failed to reach verdicts in the case that terrified Davis in late April and early May 2023.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of terrify
Noun
  • As economic anxiety reshapes American masculinity, a growing subculture of young and working-class men is turning to maxxing out their bodies as a way to reclaim value in a labor market that increasingly devalues physical work.
    — Michael Kimmel, Time, 15 Aug. 2026
  • In other writings found on her cellphone, Clancy detailed her anxiety and depression, challenges raising her children and her hesitation to take new medication.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of anxiety
Verb
  • Preconceptions, assumptions, and advance knowledge in the viewing public are regarded as impediments to the capacity of the tale to surprise, startle, or transport.
    — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Sometimes workers would be startled by the sight of a machine moving by itself and realize it was being controlled by someone in Turkey.
    — Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of startle
Noun
  • The move set off a panic rush for tax and legal advice, and a scramble for cash to meet the bill.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Yohanna Embu, who lives in Sikka, said people ran in a panic to higher ground.
    — Yacob Herin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of panic

Phrases Containing scare

Browse Nearby Words

scarcity
scare
scared
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scare. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on scare

Nglish: Translation of scare for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of rigmarole

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All