as in to frighten
to strike with fear
thunderstorms have always scared her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 3 Feb. 2025
One random bottom placement for Sam won’t scare me off!
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025
The film costars Jamie Foxx, who is making a comeback of his own after a startling 2023 health scare forced his retreat from acting.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for scare 
Verb
Comments John Lithgow is already a professional at scaring audiences.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 3 Feb. 2025
One random bottom placement for Sam won’t scare me off!
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
Quarterback Caleb Williams gave Chicago Bears fans a bit of a scare Saturday afternoon.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025
The film costars Jamie Foxx, who is making a comeback of his own after a startling 2023 health scare forced his retreat from acting.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for scare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scare
Verb
-
Stepping out from a white van, the Israeli civilian looked gaunt and frightened.—
Mick Krever,
CNN,
30 Jan. 2025
-
Julie Contreras, who is a pastor and part of United Giving Hope, a longtime immigration rights advocacy organization, said her time in church Sunday was spent comforting parishioners who were frightened by the ICE activity.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Trump’s threats have sent an icy jolt of fear through the land, and Canadian opinions have suddenly shifted on pipelines and other questions.—
Stephen Maher,
TIME,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) used Kennedy’s confirmation as the latest example of Republicans secretly opposing Trump’s nominees but bending to his will out of fear.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of a confetti bomb going off, someone turns on the fog/smoke machine, terrifying all of the little pups into relieving themselves everywhere in fear.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2025
-
But Marcel arrived terrified, hiding in the bathroom and refusing to move or be touched.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Yes, but: Heightened anxiety amid the administration's immigration crackdown has triggered dips in school attendance nationwide.—
Alex Golden,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
-
The headline result here is pretty clear: people who are more physically active are less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety now and in the future.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside Online,
9 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The shocking roar of a vehicle’s engine can startle wildlife.—
Alexandra Owens,
AFAR Media,
10 Feb. 2025
-
Jo explained that people with frequent views of auroras tended to draw more positive conclusions about them than those who may have been startled by the sight of them.—
Ari Daniel,
Smithsonian Magazine,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
What didn't help the passenger's level of panic was the turbulence her flight ran into.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Both Trump and the oil and gas industry—which donated tens of millions of dollars to his presidential campaign—seem to have recognized an opportunity in the panic.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near scare
Cite this Entry
“Scare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scare. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share