scary

adjective

ˈsker-ē How to pronounce scary (audio)
Definition of scarynext
1
as in terrifying
causing fear a scary movie that gave the child nightmares for weeks afterwards

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in timid
easily frightened a scary horse who spooked and kicked at its own shadow

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in scared
filled with fear or dread I got a little scary when I heard the noise in the basement

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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 scary Other streamers are supposed to run only age-appropriate ads, but some parents have reported scary or mature ads popping up on kids’ stuff. — Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026 More a horror film than a comic book movie — body horror, to be precise — it’s also perfectly timed to cash in on the current mania of audiences looking for a scary good time. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 Perry, Charles, and West 11th Streets in the West Village have consistently scary decorations, says creative director Chelsea Baken, and the giant spider on Waverly and Christopher is not to be missed. — Fiorella Valdesolo, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026 My parents were told about survival rates and all the scary things that could happen. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scary
  1. terrifying
  2. timid
  3. scared
  4. frightening
  5. fearful
  6. afraid
  7. formidable
  8. frightened
Adjective
  • What started as a routine bike ride home turned into a terrifying fight for survival for Katherine Marroquin on Sunday night.
    — Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • In Carroll Gardens, says Cavallo, a house on Henry Street, between Carroll and President, is so terrifying some kids have to cross the street.
    — Fiorella Valdesolo, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of terrifying
Adjective
  • Because, at this point, helping the Ukrainians achieve victory would cost relatively little, yet the West remains timid.
    — Dan Crenshaw, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Defense can’t be too timid, but there needs to be rational response to an asymmetric downside.
    — Bob Ackerman, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of timid
Adjective
  • The Democratic nominee against Knott hopes for an upset in a year when even Republican members in safe seats like the 13th District are running scared.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Everyone is scared to testify against Szabo, so his legal case is dismissed.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of scared
Adjective
  • As the frightening phantom of Frank the Bunny warns, this parallel reality has a ticking clock that’ll result in its imminent collapse in just 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • For neighbors, the crash brought a frightening interruption to an otherwise routine afternoon.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • They are fed up with the world's rebuke over the Gaza war, but also fearful of their growing global isolation.
    — Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Mark Hackett, the chief market strategist for Nationwide’s Investment Management Group, told Fortune that younger investors aren’t necessarily more fearful than older generations.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of fearful
Adjective
  • Once again, Slow Horses isn’t afraid to acknowledge its heroes are in a terrible situation and will pay the price for it.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Fond of travel but afraid to fly, Pan would take longish vacations in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, or Mexico, sometimes accompanied by his nieces.
    — David Hajdu, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of afraid
Adjective
  • Wildwood is a dark tale, with whispers of a witch, set against the beautiful yet formidable backdrop of rural New England.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • American power was formidable but trust in America was priceless.
    — Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of formidable
Adjective
  • Discovering that your identity has been stolen can leave you feeling angry, frightened and unsure where to begin.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In one video, a young orangutan can be seen crouching in the corner of a small, dark crate, its frightened eyes wide open.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of frightened

Browse Nearby Words

scars
scary
scat
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Cite this Entry

“Scary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scary. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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