as in afraid
filled with fear or dread
at the sight of the grizzly bear he froze, being too scared to even run away
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in frightened
to strike with fear
thunderstorms have always scared her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of scared
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
The song is comforting to kids who might feel lonely or scared when their parents aren’t nearby, by reminding them that their grownups will never abandon them.
—
Parents,
29 June 2026
Dylan Lysen,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
Just as Jenner passed by, DeGeneres suddenly popped out from her hiding place and scared the 70-year-old reality star.
—
Kathleen Perricone,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for scared
Adjective
After a tractor-trailer driver died, his dog Hennessy was scared and alone in an unfamiliar state.
—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
The song is comforting to kids who might feel lonely or scared when their parents aren’t nearby, by reminding them that their grownups will never abandon them.
—
Parents,
29 June 2026
Verb
However, the World Cup seems to have scared many of those other events away.
—
Dylan Lysen,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
Just as Jenner passed by, DeGeneres suddenly popped out from her hiding place and scared the 70-year-old reality star.
—
Kathleen Perricone,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for scared
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scared
Adjective
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The ruling leaves trans student-athletes and their advocates feeling angry and afraid.
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Pregnant mothers are afraid of their babies not being able to have a home.
Verb
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At the time of writing, as the Marine Traffic map shows, tanker traffic is barely moving through the Strait, and many ships, unable to obtain insurance or with their owners frightened at the level of risk involved, are refusing to advance.
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But because the president has frightened Congress, Congress doesn’t raise its voice when the president puts his Albert Speer–like building project, or intends to, on Congress’s land.
Adjective
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Outrage continues to grow after a drone was reported stalking a terrified wild mustang on North Carolina’s northern Outer Banks.
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Campbell found the minister on the ground, terrified and in pain.
Verb
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Comcast startled the industry and Wall Street with the split news early Monday, which comes just a few months after NBCU’s cable networks were spun off into a new company, Versant Media.
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Hyland said he’s been startled by how close the construction barges come to shore.
Adjective
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The first police officer on the scene quickly ran back to the station for help, while neighbors calmed the horrified Lizzie.
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As a horrified Sam inadvertently observes, a creature has been sating itself on his buddy’s brain.
Adjective
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Pochettino says while making a shocked face.
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Her mom was incredibly proud — and a bit shocked — that a Black man had been elected president.
Adjective
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The bitcoin price has dropped sharply this year, with traders fearful a further price crash could be looming.
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Some have encouraged online attendance, while others have offered help doing errands such as grocery shopping for people too fearful to leave their homes.
Cite this Entry
“Scared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scared. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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